MX23RW : Monday, November 25 13:46:19| >> :120:76598:76598:

James McCarthy closing in on Everton return

The Republic of Ireland international has not featured since January.

Everton midfielder James McCarthy could make his competitive comeback over the festive period after 11 months out with a broken leg.

The Republic of Ireland international has not featured since a horrific double-fracture of his lower right leg against West Brom on January 20.

McCarthy was involved with the squad for the visit of Newcastle earlier this month but did not make the bench.

But with four matches in 212-and-a-half hours – the shortest time of all Premier League sides – from Boxing Day to New Year's Day, he could be called upon.

"James is progressing. He is getting better," manager Marco Silva told evertontv when asked about his midfield options.

"It is good to have all of them available. We will need all of them. It will be important in a busy month.

"We have some games really close to each other, there is not the normal time to recover between games.

"It is a matter of decisions. What I want is them working hard to be ready when the chance comes again.

"I know games will give him a better condition, but we are playing tough, tough matches and it is not easy to give him what everybody knows will help him get better, which is minutes in those games.

"But he is a worker and I really like him. He works really hard every day to achieve the best physical condition. He enjoys what he is doing."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Carl Markham, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '454f1e08-dd5d-4e54-adc6-407759503254');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'James McCarthy closing in on Everton return'});

ID:344736: cacheID:344736:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3558:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Kieran Dowell in action for Everton in the EFL Cup on August 29, 2018
Read Next:
Everton to sanction Dowell's move to Rangers?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!