Everton’s James McCarthy requires groin surgery revealed Ireland national team assistant manager Roy Keane. The midfielder may miss an extended period of time on the sidelines now with this injury.
“James McCarthy is gone back to his club for an operation”- Roy Keane
The midfielder missed Everton’s final Premier League game before the international break against Stoke with the problem and manager Ronald Koeman admitted then that surgery may have been required.
However, McCarthy still joined up with the Irish team to prepare for their World Cup Qualifier against Serbia Monday as well as Robbie Keane’s international farewell match against Oman in hopes of working off the injury but, unfortunately, this was not the case.
McCarthy’s future at Everton was plunged into doubt throughout the summer once new manager Ronald Koeman took the helm. Koeman wasted little time finding an addition in midfield, an area which he identified almost immediately as needing strengthening. Idrissa Gueye was brought in from a relegated Aston Villa side and since then has looked a phenomenal piece of business playing ahead of McCarthy.
It seemed that Koeman was not too pleased with McCarthy throughout pre-season and at the start of the Premier League season as the only way he found himself in the team was covering for then injured right-back Seamus Coleman, however after being taken off against West Brom in the early stages of the first half, a substitute Koeman was quick to say was not because of McCarthy’s performance but the team’s performance, Mason Holgate has assumed the right back role and done quite well for himself.
It seems once fit McCarthy may have trouble finding his way back into the side with the partnership of Barry and Gueye favoured ahead of him as well as Muhamed Besic once he recovers from injury as Koeman seemed to take a liking to his involvement in pre-season as well.
Seamus Coleman has also returned to training and may return from international duty ready to fight for his right back spot back from youngster Mason Holgate so McCarthy’s involvement with the team will be seemingly significantly lessened compared to previous years where he was almost a guaranteed starter.
