Pundit Eamon Dunphy was sharply critical of the Republic of Ireland’s James McCarthy on RTE radio show Game On last night.

The highly-rated Everton midfielder was largely anonymous during Ireland’s

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“McCarthy is really turning out to be a terrible flop,” he said on the show. “He doesn’t do anything. He could be a holding player perhaps doing what Whelan is supposed to be doing.

“Because for Everton occasionally – I don’t agree with you that he’s a different player for Everton, he isn’t, he’s just perhaps got better players around him. But he still doesn’t really move the ball forwards. He never really changes the tempo of the game, this is the key.”

The outspoken analyst compared McCarthy unfavourably with Man of the Match on the night, Wes Hoolahan.

“Wes Hoolahan changes the tempo of the game,” Dunphy said. “He ups it, he passes the ball and then he goes for the next ball. He gets it again, he passes it again and he’ll go for the next ball if he can.

“He’s slipping little dangerous passes in and creating danger, you never see McCarthy doing that.”

Dunphy holds a low opinion of the midfielder despite knowing he is highly-regarded in the Premier League, where he is a key figure in Roberto Martinez’ Everton team.

“He is overrated,” Dunphy insisted. “Jamie Carragher said last week that if there was one player he could take for Liverpool it would be McCarthy.

“He said the only thing that was missing from his game was goals, that’s nonsense. Jamie Carragher was a great player but he also thought Brazil would win the World Cup last year right until they were beaten by Germany.”

He continued: “The point about McCarthy - it’s interesting. He’s a hyped player. He’s a player that everyone thinks is far, far better than he is. We haven’t got time to waste with Whelan and McCarthy.”

In addition to Hoolahan, who Dunphy lavished with praise after Sunday’s game, he also felt manager Martin O’Neill should be giving more time to Hull midfielder Stephen Quinn.

“We have Stephen Quinn who’s a very very good player, good young busy player - always looking for the game, looking to do things,” Dunphy said. “He should have started (on Sunday).”