Everton midfielder James McCarthy has had to endure terrible luck with injuries this season.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman
Toffees boss Ronald Koeman spoke to reporters in the aftermath of his side’s impressive 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion yesterday, and shared his frustration and disappointment after James McCarthy suffered another injury setback, as quoted by the club’s official website.
The midfielder made the move to Goodison Park from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2013, for a fee believed to be in the region of £13 million, and has since gone on to make 126 appearances for the Blues.
The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international has had to endure a stop-start campaign for Everton this term, however, making just 13 appearances in all competitions, with persistent niggles preventing him from reaching the levels he is undoubtedly capable of.
And Koeman told reporters how the club might just be forced to handle McCarthy’s situation differently to others, and take an alternative approach to dealing with the player’s fitness issues, as quoted by EvertonFC.com:
Everton’s James McCarthy in action
“James again has some problems with his hamstring – it happened at the beginning of last week. It’s painful for him and also for me because I like him and we want to progress with him. But every time we do that he has to take a step back. It’s not a big hamstring injury – he will be out for one or two weeks – but I’m really disappointed about it. We need to deal with his fitness and maybe [play him] 30-35 minutes like last week, then put him through recovery. We need to learn.”
Whether or not the Irishman could actually force his way into the Everton side when he is fully fit is another question all together.
They are one of the league’s in form sides, and with the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye and Gareth Barry ahead of him in the midfield pecking order, he will have his work cut-out if he expects to return to first-team action when he recovers from his most recent setback.
Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and James McCarthy
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