Everton midfielder James McCarthy is back from injury and working his way back to fitness.
Everton midfielder James McCarthy (L) vies with Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino
Everton’s Under-23’s lost 3-1 against Wolfsburg in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday night – and midfielder James McCarthy returned to action.
McCarthy, 26, hasn’t made a single appearance for Everton this season having struggled with a knee injury, but he is on his way back to fitness now.
The Irishman played 45 minutes against Wolfsburg before being substituted at half time, and he will now hope to kick on – but questions still linger over his Everton future.
McCarthy started just seven league games last season, as he struggled to nail down a first-team place under Ronald Koeman, and his chances don’t particularly look any better now.
Koeman has a host of midfielders at his disposal in Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin, Muhamed Besic, Tom Davies and new signing Davy Klaassen, meaning McCarthy may well be down the pecking order when he does return to full fitness.
Everton may still look to cash in on the former Wigan Athletic ace in January, and one club who have been heavily linked with a move to sign the midfielder over the last year is Newcastle United.
The Daily Mail reported in August that that McCarthy would be allowed to join Newcastle once Gylfi Sigurdsson signed for Everton, and whilst that deal did go through, injury prevented McCarthy from making a move.
The problem with the idea that Newcastle would renew their interest is that Rafael Benitez has seen summer signing Mikel Merino impress so much in midfield, that he has made the Spaniard’s loan move from Borussia Dortmund permanent.
With Benitez also having Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden available in midfield, it’s unclear just where McCarthy would fit in right now, meaning a potential move to St. James’ Park could be dead.
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