Everton manager Roberto Martinez insists that James McCarthy was "desperate" to play during the latest international break, despite criticism from Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane.
McCarthy, 24, has missed his country's last three Euro 2016 qualifiers because of injuries, and will not feature in Tuesday's friendly against the U.S. in Dublin.
The midfielder has been dragged into a club vs. country controversy after Keane claimed that McCarthy was "under lots of pressure" from Everton not to play in internationals.
Everton chairman Bill Kenwright responded by describing Keane's comments as "totally unfair," and Martinez says that McCarthy wanted to play.
The manager told the club's official website: "James was desperate to be involved with his national team but he couldn't make it."
McCarthy sat out European qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany in October because of a thigh problem, but then returned to action for his club in a Premier League victory over Aston Villa the following weekend.
He then missed the Republic's 1-0 defeat against Scotland in Glasgow last Friday, having suffered a hamstring injury playing for Everton in a league match at Sunderland five days earlier.
Having joined up with the national squad ahead of the Scotland game, the midfielder was unable to train and was sent back to his club for treatment.
McCarthy could be fit to play for the Toffees when they host West Ham on Saturday, but Martinez said it was too soon to make a decision.
"We will try to get him fit for West Ham but it is a bit too early to tell," he said. "He hasn't been able to train with the team and that is a worry on a Tuesday leading up to a Saturday game.
"It's James' second injury of this nature in the last month and that's a bit of a worry. We need to give him perfect treatment and make sure he is fully fit."
Martinez will also take a check on the fitness of midfielders Gareth Barry and Darron Gibson, as well as that of left-back Leighton Baines, ahead of the Hammers clash.
Barry suffered an ankle injury at Sunderland, Baines is recovering from a hamstring problem and Gibson complained of a sore knee after playing 70 minutes for the Republic against Scotland last Friday.
Martinez added: "Gareth is a player who will be quick in his recovery period because of the way he looks after himself.
"We will have to take it day-by-day for confirmation of how long he will be out but he is recovering very well.
"When you see Leighton Baines pull out of a training session you know that something is wrong but at the moment he is responding well to treatment.
"Again, it is too early to say how long he is going to be out but we remain very positive. Leighton is the type of player that heals very quickly from those sort of injuries.
"Darron Gibson played against Scotland and got a bit of soreness in his knee. He had a year-long lay-off with his ligaments, so we need to be cautious. But I'm very confident he will be available to train very soon."