James McCarthy marks return to first team with nice assist for Everton

Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy played his first match of football since January on Tuesday in a 4-0 win over Gor Mahia in the SportPesa Trophy.

McCarthy suffered a horrific double leg break in January when attempting to tackle former West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon. The injury sidelined the 27-year-old for 291 days but he made his return just after the hour mark against Gor Mahia coming on for striker Cenk Tosun. Everton were leading 2-0 at the time thanks to goals from Ademola Lookman and Kieran Dowell before Nathan Broadhead and Oumar Niasse tagged on another two goals to complete the rout. McCarthy played the full 90 minutes of the Everton U23's 1-0 win against Manchester City last month in what was his first official game back since the leg break and he revealed that he leaned on teammate and Ireland captain Seamus Coleman during his rehabilitation from injury. "Obviously Seamie had been there and done it," McCarthy said last week. "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."