Updated 19.45pm
IRELAND MIDFIELDER JAMES McCarthy was forced off just 26 minutes into his return from a groin injury.
McCarthy had missed Everton’s last five games but returned to Roberto Martinez’s side for this afternoon’s clash with Stoke City at Goodison Park.
But the 25-year-old hobbled off midway through the first-half after assisting Romelu Lukaku’s equaliser for the hosts.
It was McCarthy’s first appearance since the Toffees’ 3-3 draw at Bournemouth on 28 November while his replacement, Tom Cleverley, was also forced off.
After the game, Martinez confirmed McCarthy had suffered a recurrence of the groin injury which had sidelined him for much of the festive period.
“To lose Tom Cleverley through injury and to get a reaction, a flare up from James McCarthy is a real negative,” said Martinez at the full-time whistle. “It was a blow to lose James so early. We felt we needed an extra energy and you saw that with his impact in with the assist for the first goal.
“Tom then felt his Achilles tendon and we will have to assess it. He tried to stay on as long as he could. He played the pass for Romelu Lukaku for the second goal but he had to come off. He made a really big impact when he came on and he was playing a massive role.”
Xherdan Shaqiri’s first Premier League goal put the visitors into an early lead before Lukaku responded five minutes later. Stoke would eventually snatch a 4-3 victory in the dying embers.
Glenn Whelan started in midfield for the Potters but Jon Walters was once again forced to settle for a place on the bench, coming with 10 minutes remaining.
Elsewhere, Rob Elliot was a late withdrawal from Newcastle’s side for their game at West Brom. The Ireland goalkeeper had been feeling unwell and failed to come through the warm-up.
He was replaced in the starting XI by Karl Darlow less than an hour before kick-off, with Elliot dropping to the bench.
