‘He’s paid a heavy price for his commitment’ – Sam Allardyce on James McCarthy injury

Everton and Ireland midfielder James McCarthy broke his tibia and fibula in a freak accident on Saturday when he tackled West Brom striker Salomon Rondon in the Toffees 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

McCarthy had to be stretchered off just before the hour mark after breaking his leg while chasing down Rondon who was through on goal. Rondon burst into tears after the challenge while Allardyce later confirmed that McCarthy would be sidelined until sometime next season and added that the 27-year-old paid a heavy price for his commitment. "He was getting sharper and sharper and fitter and fitter with every game," Allardyce told the club's official website. “I don’t know [if he’ll be operated on tonight], but we’ll do it as quickly as we possibly can. I think it very much depends on the specialist or surgeon that deals with it. “The tib and fib are broken and it’s because of his really brave efforts to try to stop West Brom’s possible goalscoring opportunity. He’s paid a heavy price for his commitment there. “He’s missed so many games and we’d actually thought we’d overcome the little problems he’d been having, and he’s been playing regularly. “Now this is one serious injury that we know will keep him out until next season at some stage and it’s a big blow. “All of us wish James well and hope that he will recover as quickly as possible.” https://twitter.com/salorondon23/status/954796784504770560 https://twitter.com/funesmoriofi25/status/954819499156541440 https://twitter.com/eirSport/status/954751366328606720 https://twitter.com/jimbeglin/status/954766622794944513 https://twitter.com/RBarkley20/status/954785193319108608