Everton boss Marco Silva hails James McCarthy ahead of injury return

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Everton midfielder James McCarthy is on the road back to recovery.

Everton boss Marco Silva has told the Liverpool Echo that he knows of James McCarthy’s quality, and hopes he can bring some more bite to the Toffees midfield.

Everton are back in Premier League action this weekend, as they take on Crystal Palace at Goodison Park, with Silva searching for some consistency.

There have been impressive wins over Southampton and Leicester City, draws at Wolves and Bournemouth as well as disappointing home results against Huddersfield Town and West Ham United, with Silva serving up a real mixed bag thus far.

Silva should be given a major boost in the coming weeks with deadline day signings from Barcelona Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes set to return from injury to finally make their debuts.

There may be another boost to come as well, as midfielder McCarthy is also ramping up his efforts to return from a lengthy lay-off to add another option in Silva’s engine room.

The Irishman, 27, has been out of action since January having suffered a broken leg, and has endured injury hell in recent years having previously been a key man under Roberto Martinez, who brought him to Goodison Park with him from Wigan Athletic.

Now, Silva has told the Liverpool Echo that he understands McCarthy’s difficult time, but feels that he can bring strength in the tackle to his midfield options, as few other players at his disposal have that ability – but first he must achieve ‘a good physical condition.

“I know his quality,” said Silva. “Last season was a difficult season for him. When he started to play and get to a good moment he had a bad injury again, but he is a quality player. He is powerful, strong in the challenge as well and that is something we need in some moments in our middle zone because the profile of some of our other players is not this type of profile.”

“Some of the others are not as strong in some challenges and James can give us that in some situations. But his quality is important as well. He is working hard to achieve a good physical condition,” he added.