James McCarthy and the Celtic stick or twist 'wrench' as close pal warns not to write him off

Daryl Horgan admits Republic of Ireland team-mate James McCarthy has found himself between a rock and a hard place at Celtic.

The former Hibs winger believes the 31-year-old midfielder faces the biggest stick-or-twist decision of his career but has backed his international colleague to trigger a reversal of fortune by becoming a Hoops mainstay. Reports suggest McCarthy is weighing up his future after failing to make the bench for the 2-0 win over Aberdeen and he remains a wanted man in England.

The ex-Everton man has been shunted down the queue under boss Ange Postecoglou and could leave during this transfer window despite having three years remaining on his deal, with the arrival of Aaron Mooy another first-team hurdle. A Parkhead exit now appears likely with the player at a critical crossroads but Horgan is adamant his career still has plenty of mileage left.

He said: “If James is to leave Celtic then it’ll be a huge wrench for him as a supporter of the club. I know first-hand about players who are Celtic fans who would do anything to be there.

"It becomes the boyhood dream versus being forced to decide to continue your career elsewhere to prolong it for as long as you possibly can. Because of the player James was and still is, there will always be attractive offers for him.

“But we all know football. You do get forgotten quickly. James is only 31 and wants to play at the highest level he can. He wants to play regularly.

“The decisions you make later on in your career are more final and can be more definitive. If you make the wrong move then there are consequences for your family where you unsettle your wife and kids.

“Every move can be huge for a family, especially if you’re making a lot of them. It’s a very