EVERTON BOSS ROBERTO Martinez has expressed concern about the recurring nature of James McCarthy’s muscle problems.

The player has been in the headlines recently after Roy Keane insinuated McCarthy was being pressurised into missing Ireland games by Everton, but Martinez insists the injury issues are serious.

The Everton boss told reporters: “We need to assess it.

“Maybe it’s managing the work he does in training. We need to find the right formula because we need to make sure we don’t get these sort of injuries on a regular basis. He’s a super-fit boy and he shouldn’t be picking up these sort of knocks.”

However, Martinez is optimistic that the club can solve the player’s ongoing troubles, adding that he was desperate to play in the Scotland-Ireland game contrary to some reports.

“James has played a huge amount of games and is still a very young man,” he said.

“He’s had this same injury before but not in the same leg.

“It’s partly normal phases of development and growing into the physical demands of your role.”

The former Wigan boss also singled out McCarthy’s fellow Ireland international, Darron Gibson, as another player that needs to be managed carefully, after he returned early from international duty with soreness in his knee.

“He had a year-long lay-off with his ligaments, so we need to be cautious. But I’m very confident he will be available to train very soon.”

h/t Liverpool Echo

First published at 20.54 on Wednesday

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