Roberto Martinez sweating over fitness of Everton FC midfielder James McCarthySpaniard decided not to bring McCarthy to Russia for the Europa League tie and admits he may miss Old Trafford clash
James McCarthy could miss Sunday's game with Manchester United
Roberto Martinez admits he is sweating over the fitness of James McCarthy after deciding not to bring the influential midfielder to Russia to face Krasnodar in the Europa League tomorrow.
The Republic of Ireland international felt a tightening in his one of his quad muscles towards the end of Saturday's Merseyside derby, and Martinez has opted to rest him and let him recuperate back at Finch Farm instead of risking him in the Group H game.
Speaking at a press conference earlier this afternoon at the Kuban stadium, the Blues boss said: "James is not in the squad but shouldn’t be too far away from being fully fit. I would say there is a question mark over the weekend, but it will not be any later than after the international break (next weekend).
"He has just tightened up his quads. He has had a lot of football of late and he was feeling a little bit of fatigue. It is not a real injury, so we are no concerned about that one at all."
Martinez said that Seamus Coleman could also be in contention for Sunday's visit to Old Trafford, although the right-back has also not travelled to Russia, along with Sylvain Distin, who is being rested.
"Seamus had a concussion against Wolfsburg and then had a little bit of a soft tissue problem and he is just trying to clear that," he said. "I don’t think it is going to be too long. The international break will clear those injuries and it is a little bit of an option for Sunday. But they are not too far away from being fully fit."
Injuries are mounting for the Toffees, and Martinez added that it was still too soon to know the full extent of Kevin Mirallas' expected lay-off, after the forward had to be stretchered off with a hamstring tear 30 minutes into the game at Anfield.
"We had a couple of scans," he said. "At the moment it is a bit too early because the bit of inflammation in the area doesn’t allow us to get the full extent. Clearly it is an injury that will keep him out for a while – it is the tendon of his hamstring.
"So we are just going to make sure in the next 48 hours we get the clear diagnosis for it. But it is an injury that is quite frustrating because it is going to keep him out for a while."
Everton play their first competitive European game since 2010 tomorrow, and Martinez said he is excited at the prospect of it, especially after speaking to Aiden McGeady and Samuel Eto'o, who have both played in this country.
"The Russian league is a new one in terms of how they have put it together and I think in the last four years, you can see the teams are really strong and very competitive," said Martinez.
"It helps that Aiden McGeady and Samuel Eto’o have played in the league. It gives you a bit of an understand of what you will face.
"The real problem when you come to an unknown environment like the one we have now, I think you can embrace it when you have a little bit of detail from some of the players.
"The word is that it is an exciting league, there is a lot of investment behind it and the teams are developing really strongly. I think we are well aware that we are not going to underestimate the game tomorrow and it has been clear for the players, having that insight from Samuel and Aiden – it has helped us to look forward and embrace the challenge tomorrow."
Source: Echo
