Give Carey the Call

ARGYLE manager Derek Adams believes that Graham Carey is on the verge of an international call-up.

Pilgrims’ midfielder Graham scored a sublime free-kick in Argyle’s 2-0 win at Mansfield Town on Saturday to take his tally of goals for the season to 12, after first laying on the opener for Sonny Bradley.

His assist for Sonny’s goal was his 14th of the campaign, which means the playmaker heads into Tuesday’s away having directly figured in more than 40% of Argyle’s goals and with a ringing endorsement from his club manager for Ireland boss Martin O’Neill.

“I don’t think it will be long before he is in a Republic of Ireland full squad,” said Derek. “He is a similar player to Wes Hoolahan, who is now 34; Graham is only 27 and he is probably the next one that Martin O’Neill will look to in the future.

“I am sure there will be a lot of scouts from him that are watching games.”

Graham featured six times for the Irish Under-21s in 2009-10, whilst at Celtic, and Derek believes he should be aiming to add to those international honours.

“For Graham to get into that Republic squad has got to be his thought-process,” he said. “I think that he deserves the opportunity. 

“We have seen players from Dundalk get into that Republic side and Graham Carey has been doing it week in, week out at a different level, a difficult level as it is.”