Everton manager Marco Silva really impressed by James McCarthy ahead of return

Everton manager Marco Silva has said that he really likes Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy ahead of his scheduled return from a double leg break.

McCarthy has not played a competitive football match since fracturing his leg in a horror challenge with former West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon back in January but is now poised to return to the Everton first team squad this month ahead of a congested run of games for the club. The Toffees will face Tottenham, Burnley, Brighton and Leicester City over the next two weeks and Silva has said that McCarthy is continuing to improve after an extended stint on the sidelines.

“James is getting better,” Silva told Everton TV. “It is good to have all of the midfielders available. We will need all of them. It will be important in a busy month.”

McCarthy played his first match of football in Everton's 4-0 win over Gor Mahia in the SportPesa Trophy last month while he also featured for the Everton U23s in their 1-0 win against Manchester City in late October. Silva has said that it will be tough to give McCarthy the minutes he needs over the next few games but he's been impressed by his work ethic.

“I know games will give him a better condition,” added Silva. “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.”

McCarthy's long awaited comeback has been aided by teammate and Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman who consoled the midfielder during his rehabilitation after returning from the same injury earlier this season.

"Obviously Seamie had been there and done it," McCarthy said last month. "When I got into the tunnel [after the injury] I looked up and he was there which was great. We're best mates in football. "He was telling me not to worry, saying I'll get through it and come back stronger. The next day he came back up when I was in hospital which was really good of him. "I've asked him if he felt wee niggles and he's been brilliant telling me not to worry. It's good to bounce off him if anything is niggling or anything."