Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy has been named in the Everton squad for the first time in almost a year.
The 28-year-old suffered a double fracture of his leg while making a goal saving tackle in the Toffees’ Premier League clash with West Brom last January.
McCarthy has made a number of appearances for Everton U23s recently but manager Marco Silva has now named him in the 18-man squad to face Lincoln City in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The 41-cap international has been linked with a loan move away from Merseyside but Silva suggested he could yet play his way back into the team.
“I can tell you he will be in the 18-man squad list for the match. If he is in the squad he is ready to play,” Silva told the Telegraph.
“He is training every day with us in all the sessions. It is up to me to decide whether he starts the game or not.
“I cannot promise anything. If he is in our squad it is because he has the conditions to play. He is working hard and showing quality.
“He is a player I looked at when I came here. I knew he had a really bad injury and when I became manager he told me how many months he would be out.
“He is fighting to take what he wants, which is to be part of the squad list.”
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