Everton midfielder James McCarthy is set for three weeks on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his groin.
Toffees boss Ronald Koeman today confirmed the Irishman had undergone surgery last Friday in order to solve a long-standing groin problem.
McCarthy is now set to miss Monday’s trip to Sunderland and is unlikely to feature at all until October.
The former Wigan man has started three of Everton’s four games so far this season, however, he was at the centre of much transfer speculation during the summer transfer window. McCarthy was strongly linked with a move away from Goodison and was understood to be in favour of a move north of the border to join Brendan Rodgers at Celtic. Crystal Palace were also close to securing McCarthy’s services on loan, however, the move broke down after Everton failed to secure a move for Moussa Sissoko, who ended up joining Tottenham Hotspur for around £30million.
As well as McCarthy, Everton will also be without fellow Irishman Darron Gibson for Monday’s game, however, Tom Cleverley is likely to resume full training and may be available for the trip to the Stadium of Light. The former Manchester United man has only made two substitute appearances for Ronald Koeman’s men so far this season.
Seamus Coleman, however, is fit and ready to return to club action. The 27-year-old captained the Republic of Ireland through their 2-2 draw in Serbia earlier in the week and avoided aggravating his ankle injury of which has kept him out of Everton’s opening games.
