Double leg break confirmed for McCarthy

Saturday, 20 January, 2018 57comments  |  Jump to most recent

Tony Marshall/Getty Images

The sickening injury suffered by James McCarthy's in today's game with West Brom has been confirmed as a double compound leg fracture.

McCarthy's tibia and fibula were broken as he slid in to deny Salomon Rondon a goalscoring opportunity in the second half of the 1-1 draw, the Venezuelan striking McCarthy's leg with full force instead of the ball.

Rondon was visibly shaken and broke down in tears as McCarthy and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford called for medical help, with Everton physios and ambulance staff eventually carrying the stricken midfielder off on a stretcher.

Television pictures showed Seamus Coleman leaving his seat in the stands at the same time to make his way downstairs to comfort his team-mate before he left for hospital.

Coleman is close to making his return to action following a similarly disastrous double-leg-break last March while playing for Ireland.

For McCarthy, meanwhile, it represents another setback for a player who has been plagued by injury problems in recent seasons. The 27-year-old had only recently returned from a lengthy layoff with hamstring problem, while his 2016-17 campaign was severely affected by soft-tissue problems following surgery on his groin.

Sam Allardyce confirmed afterwards that the injury was "a tibula and fibula double fracture, compunded as well, so it's a very nasty injury.

"We'll do the operation as quickly as we can [but] that very much depends on what the specialist or surgeon says. He's paid a heavy price for his commitment there. A big blow for him and us."

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Reader Comments (57)

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Ernie Baywood
1 Posted 20/01/2018 at 16:15:14
This is bad. I feel for McCarthy.
Christy Ring
2 Posted 20/01/2018 at 16:33:10
Feel for McCarthy, suffers double leg break, stopping Rondon from scoring, so sad.
Steve Brown
3 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:04:18
Oviedo... Coleman... and now McCarthy. Dreadful.
Ajay Gopal
4 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:16:18
Some footballers are just cursed with injuries. Just when I thought that McCarthy had put his injuries behind him, THIS happens. Brave footballer, one of a dying breed. Barry must have been gutted to see his old midfield partner suffer an injury like that.

Jimmy Mac, stay brave, our prayers and best wishes are with you for a full recovery. This is truly a cursed season for Everton, just hope we come out of this with our Premier League status intact.

Jamie Evans
5 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:21:27
Just confirmed its a double break.
Nick Lacey
6 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:28:26
Terrible injury. All the best McCarthy.
Oliver Molloy
7 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:33:03
Rondo looked very upset alright.

From what I can remember, McCarthy played himself into trouble in the half-way line and was determined to make amends chasing back, but at a terrible cost to himself. He has not had much luck this last couple of seasons and now this.

I hope you get well soon and come back better.

Best wishes.

Mike Hughes
8 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:35:24
Really bad luck and terrible news.

I'm sure you were hoping for a change of luck with the New Year so this is a real blow.

Best of wishes on the road to recovery.

Eddie Dunn
9 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:37:08
The manager has confirmed the double break, adding that it is compound. I think that means the bone sticks through the skin. A terrible injury for the poor lad.
Tommy Meehan
10 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:40:45
An absolute sickener.

Probably game over if he doesn't make that tackle. Considering his injury issues over the last couple of years, that willingness to put himself in harm's way is a true measure of the lad's character.

Anthony Hughes
11 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:54:14
I fear that could be the end of James at the top level. Battle on lad.
Christy Ring
12 Posted 20/01/2018 at 17:54:45
Totally devastated for Macca, after getting back in the first team after his horrendous hamstring problem, a sickening leg break because of his bravery in stopping Rondon scoring.

A huge loss for us, because he always gives 100%. Our prayers are with you James, and hope you make a full recovery, you're one of my favourite players.

Gordon Crawford
13 Posted 20/01/2018 at 18:00:51
Double compound like break it seems, which is truly horrific. This is a seriously long term injury.

Feel so sorry for the lad. He gives his all to get fit and then this happened. It wouldn't surprise me if this knocked the stuffing right out of him and he retired. I really hope he doesn't though. :(

Amit Vithlani
14 Posted 20/01/2018 at 18:02:14
Yes agree Tommy, I think he put his body in the way to prevent a near certain scoring opportunity.

It is a sickener and I do not give a toss about a no mark performance and a no mark result under a no mark manager.

Feel dreadful for McCarthy and I truly curse out luck with injuries and how many serious ones we have had.

Southall missing the cup final in 86, Jags missing 2009 final with a cruciate (still remember him screaming when he went down), Joe Parkinson's career cut short at its prime, Arteta never being the same again after his knee injury, Coleman's horrendous break, Bolasie's injury, Barkley with a double fracture at 17, Super Kev's knee giving way, even Don Hutch suffered a bad one.

I appreciate over a period of 30 years in a sport such as this it may be par for the course but the superstitious side of me still thinks we are hexed, and every injury brings out painful reminders of those injuries to key players from years gone by.

On a seperate note, the Live Forum plumbed atrociously low depths today. Bemoaning that McCarthy was not moved on on the day of his dreadful injury is cynical nonsense of the worst sort. Posters wishing injuries on Schneiderlin was also crass rubbish of the very highest order.

Terry Underwood
15 Posted 20/01/2018 at 18:23:37
We all feel for James Mac, a compound fracture is when the bone breaks the skin, Very serious, a DOUBLE compound fracture, well, that could spell the end for the lad depending on whether it is tibia or fibula that is broken.

Back to the game. Everton never run out of ways to disappoint. I feel like a guy whose missus is shagging the milkman, then the baker, the guy next door (both sides) and STILL I take her back, cos I love her.

Finally, another one in the eye for the Niasse haters. Sure he sometimes looks like Bambi on Ice, but he knows where the goal is... Oumar, Oumar, Oumar!!!

Dave Williams
16 Posted 20/01/2018 at 18:44:01
Amit, some of the participants on the live forum need to take a good look at themselves. Every week some comments are a disgrace to civilised people and I recall particularly savage treatment of Tim Howard and his medical condition.

These people must have pretty bad lives to want to post such vitriol. I am very upset for James,a good honest lad and let's all hope he makes a full recovery.

Jeff Spiers
17 Posted 20/01/2018 at 18:50:14
Get well, James.
Colman Cooke
18 Posted 20/01/2018 at 18:56:49
Terrible injury.

I can't help but feel that this injury was caused by his own teammates today. Not directly in the lead up but more so in their actions and lack of effort and passion. Macca felt the need to go win that ball because he will run himself into the ground for anyone, a proud player. No-one else on the field today would have even thought of making that tackle. They are all too soft and don't care for anything.

The team stinks and has done for some time. This injury is a direct result of nobody caring and hoping someone else cleans up the mess. Under Moyes, this shit did not happen, you had a nod and you did it simple, as no room for mistakes and for soft players. Heads up and be counted is what they did.

I hope some of the players take a real hard look at themselves tonight and think "I am to blame for that injury and possibly career ended."

I'm shocked at the level we have sunk to...

Gaute Lie
19 Posted 20/01/2018 at 19:07:54
Feel sorry for Mac, hope he recovers well. You never know with these kind of injuries.

One also sort of thinks the paycheck these players get is deserved when one sees this kind of mutilation on the field.

One former top (Norwegian) shelf player here in Norway is paralyzed from the neck and down after an "accident" in a game some 10 years ago. I bet there are many sports invalids around the world.

Mark Boulle
20 Posted 20/01/2018 at 19:08:39
Coleman, Oviedo, Jagielka, Yakubu, Arteta, Bolasie and now Macca

Sure there are others I've forgotten all within the last 10 years.

I am too disenchanted by Everton currently to research other teams' injury records, but I'd be willing to bet you'd be hard pushed to find another side so cursed by severe long-term injuries over the past 10 seasons as we have been.

And just this season Stekelenburg (not that we have needed him but still), Baines, Barkley all also unavailable for selection for 3 months or more.

As somebody said on the Live Forum, if we didn't have bad luck, we'd have no luck at all!

Steve Pugh
21 Posted 20/01/2018 at 19:08:42
Come Back Jimmy Mac.
That's all.
Just come back.
We need you.
Si Cooper
22 Posted 20/01/2018 at 19:17:38
Terrible luck and nasty injury, but I wouldn't write off the rest of his career yet. He's not 28 until November so he's 2 years younger than Séamus who looks like making a recovery from a similar injury within 12 months.

Of course a lot rides on the skills of the medical professionals who have to help him accomplish that recovery so we can only wish for the best at this moment in time.

Colin Gee
23 Posted 20/01/2018 at 19:19:22
You could tell it was a bad one straight away as Jimmy Mac never moved. A real shame for him as I thought he was having a decent game up until that.

Sounds like a really bad injury, hopefully he can come back fitter and stronger from it. Get well soon, lad.

Si Cooper
24 Posted 20/01/2018 at 19:27:03
Meant to add, a long term lay off may actually allow them to look at his other injury issues and help him come back stronger.

The club needs to replace him now though. If Besic is not calm / consistent enough to play, then we have nobody of sufficient stature allied to mobility to provide a meaningful defensive presence in midfield.

Doug Harris
25 Posted 20/01/2018 at 19:40:20
Horrific injury and one could tell straight away with the reaction of Jordan Pickford to the line and Mac not moving.

Feel so much for Mac. Hopefully he can come back from this, but it is a very much mental torment that comes with the physical side to an injury as such.

As an aside you could see the anguish in poor Rondon's reactions to the unfortunate clash, visibly moved the lad was.

Best wishes Mac.
Derek Knox
26 Posted 20/01/2018 at 20:00:44
I can echo the sentiments towards McCarthy's injury situation, which is bad at any point in a career but to come so soon after the lad had come back from long term injury is a double whammy.

Like some others have mentioned, this could spell the end for him at this or any other level; fingers crossed we may be wrong.

Mike Gaynes
27 Posted 20/01/2018 at 20:01:21
Devastating.

All the very best, Macca. We will be cheering you on.

And due respect to Rondon, who was in tears after the incident and again after the game. Blameless, but no player ever forgets seeing and hearing something like that, literally beneath his feet.

Eddie #9, you are correct, that's what compound means. It's a horror. Worsens the injury because of additional tissue damage and risk of infection. Dave #16 and Amit #14; agree wholeheartely.

Bad day.

Roger Helm
28 Posted 20/01/2018 at 20:06:43
It would have been nice for some of his team-mates to have come to his aid, as happened when Brian Oviedo was injured, rather than just standing around with their hands on their hips.
Jim Wilson
29 Posted 20/01/2018 at 20:06:45
Good Luck, James.

Some people liked to knock you but I actually thought you are a great player and our best midfielder.

I hope you make a full recovery and get back to your best.

All the very best to you.

Mike Rees
30 Posted 20/01/2018 at 20:06:47
Desperately bad luck for James to end up with such a horrific injury.

Wishing him as speedy a recovery as possible with the support of all those around him at the club; including EFC supporters.

Eddie Dunn
31 Posted 20/01/2018 at 20:36:27
Mike (#27), and Amit and Dave, I was disgusted at the comments from Tony Marsh on the Live Forum as well as someone wishing injury to Schneiderlin. The live forum has plumbed new depths today.

I hope Macca manages to get through this period and that the club/fans rally round to support him, as I'm sure they will. Get well soon, James McCarthy.

Michael Williams
32 Posted 20/01/2018 at 20:44:48
"Coleman, Oviedo, Jags, Yakubu, Arteta, Bolasie and now Macca
Sure there are others I've forgotten all within the last 10 years."

Barkley.

Get well James. Keep your head up.
Darren Hind
33 Posted 20/01/2018 at 20:53:57
Heart-breaking.

I always want total commitment from our players.... but I wish he hadn't made that tackle, even if it did save a goal.

I don't know if the cameras picked it up or not, but Rondon was in a terrible state. He was right down below us and he was distraught.

I felt for him too, he did nothing wrong from where I was sat, but his reaction told us all that this was a bad one.

Best wishes to Macca. I feel gutted for him

Rob Hooton
34 Posted 20/01/2018 at 20:54:15
Wishing James and his family all the best at this time, so tragic as was hoping he'd put his injury troubles behind him and was one of our better performers in a poor showing today.

Just really tragic to see such an injury again, hope he can eventually make a full recovery and that having teammates like Seamus can help him through it.

Bill Griffiths
35 Posted 20/01/2018 at 21:06:10
I really hope James comes back from this. I really rate James and think the stick he gets from many on TW is not warranted.

Like Rob (#34), I thought he was one of our better performers today and one of a few who did show desire and commitment to his own cost.

Good luck James, looking forward to seeing you in the Royal Blue shirt sometime next season.

John Malone
36 Posted 20/01/2018 at 21:08:01
Roger 28, great point I don’t remember one Everton player coming to McCarthy when he was being stretchered off only Rondon to apologise!!

Goes to way how shite the dressing room is these day’s and it reflect’s on the pitch!!

I miss the integrity amd team spirit Moyes brought to the club it’s not the same since he left we’re a hollow team!

Andy Crooks
37 Posted 20/01/2018 at 21:15:17
Eddie Dunn# 31, I agree. I don' t take part in the live forum but I looked at it today. The comments of Marsh were not surprising. He has been called out as a liar on this site but today he was particularly vile.

He sees himself as a" tell it as it is proper Evertonian guy", He is actually a semi-literate braggart and the editors should look at the forum today and deal with him.

Tony Hill
38 Posted 20/01/2018 at 21:15:35
A great deal of credit goes to Rondon (who had an excellent game); he showed the reaction of a proper sportsman to James's terrible injury. What bad luck our man has had. We can only hope that he will come back yet again.
Bill Griffiths
39 Posted 20/01/2018 at 21:22:17
John (#36), Mason definitely went over and spoke to James when he was being carried off.

I was disappointed that all the players were all gathered well away from James and that no-one bUt Mason went to him as he was carried off.

Brent Stephens
40 Posted 20/01/2018 at 21:44:15
Andy (#37) "The comments of Marsh were not surprising. He has been called out as a liar on this site but today he was particularly vile".

Yes, this one was beyond the pale:

Tony Marsh 20/01/2018 : 16:57:25 "Shite that but why oh why hasn't sick note McCarthy been moved on by now..Another year draining the clubs resources. He is an accident waiting to happen..Career now over we pick up the tab."

Terry Farrell
41 Posted 20/01/2018 at 21:53:57
Bill, the only reason is that they knew the match will restart and you don't want that image in your head. They will all be 100% behind him and will support him.

Good luck to James he is a fighter and will use Seamus as an example of how to recover.

Mark Williams
42 Posted 20/01/2018 at 22:11:59
Admirable respect for Rondon from Everton fans on Twitter tonight

https://twitter.com/salorondon23/status/954796784504770560E

Sean Kelly
43 Posted 20/01/2018 at 23:42:34
I wish Macca a full and speedy recovery. Many on here slated him over the last few seasons. One thing I would remind them of is his bravery. It takes a brave player to play when not fully fit as that’s when further serious injuries are more likely. Unsung hero and a nice bloke. Good luck lad hope you get back and move to a club that appreciates you.
Liam Reilly
44 Posted 21/01/2018 at 00:19:39
Awful injury for the lad, trying to recover a ball that he lost because he had no outlet.

He can't and won't come back the same player now, so he'll need to adjust his game, but the boy is talented and can still become a legend at Goodison.

John Reynolds
45 Posted 21/01/2018 at 00:46:40
As much as I hate to say this, Schneiderlin must take some responsibility for James's broken leg. He has been universally declared as lazy and useless by fans all season, but still gets game time.

After calling for the pass today he blithely stepped over it, lost it cheaply and left James to try and chase back. I'd either sell him for whatever in the next 10 days or terminate his contract.

Jason Wilkinson
46 Posted 21/01/2018 at 01:09:57
Nice to see the comments by Rondon.

I think all true fans will wish James McCarthy a speedy and full recovery. I can't agree that it is any players fault. J Mc was doing his best for the team today and was so unlucky.

Whether you like him as a player or not, he has always given his all if not his best for the cause. I would take 11 James McCarthy's over 1 Lionel Messi and 10 shirkers any day. It's a team game and sadly we don't have one.

Jamie Crowley
47 Posted 21/01/2018 at 04:36:24
I think the best central midfield in my 10 Blue Years - forget the wide guys I’m talking the spine - has been :

Barry
McCarthy
Barkley

Pains me that the hard nosed Scot/Irish bad-ass ball winning monster was so badly hurt today. Dude has brought me a lot of joy. Always did the unheralded, non-glamorous ball-winning stuff every midfield needs... Never any fanfare or accolades. Just put his nose down and played tough as nails.

Dude should have played hockey...

Get well fast James.

Paul Tran
48 Posted 21/01/2018 at 08:50:18
A horrible injury for a player who always gives his all and was regularly put on the pitch when clearly unfit. Like most of our midfielders in the past few years, he has suffered for not playing next to a strong physical centre midfielder with presence. The better sides have at least one. We desperately need this now, especially that our most energetic one is out for a year.

Even on my patchy internet feed, I could see Rondon and his colleagues' exemplary quick reaction to the injury. Hats off to them and get well soon Macca.

Gerry Ring
49 Posted 21/01/2018 at 09:51:13
It's all been said here already but I feel so sad for James McCarthy. Too brave & too committed if there is such a thing. It's this bravery & commitment that will see him make a full recovery.

I believe Everton have a state-of-the-art recovery apparatus specifically for leg breaks which was brought in for Seamus. Looking forward to seeing you back.

Jim Harrison
50 Posted 21/01/2018 at 12:24:51
Terrible. Don't ever like to see any player at any club get injured

Side note. Rondon, obviously distressed seemed to go on afterward and sill put in a very good performance. That's a very good sign of a professional. He could have gone to bits but got himself back together. An example to some of our players...

Rob Sawyer
51 Posted 21/01/2018 at 13:37:52
Roger (28) and John (36) I agree with your observations. I appreciate that seeing James's terrible injury at close hand would be very distressing but I would have expected one of two of our senior players to go over to comfort him. As I recall it was Jay Rodriguez of WBA doing that – holding James's hand and head.

Kudos to Rondon, too, for being genuinely upset but going on to deliver an excellent performance – so nearly capping it with a goal.

Naturally, I join everyone in wishing James strength on the long road to (what I hope is) a full recovery.

Mark Dunford
52 Posted 21/01/2018 at 14:18:47
Would just like to add my best wishes to James McCarthy and to endorse the comments from Amit (14) onwards about the unacceptability of the moronic views put forward on the live forum.

I've no problem with candour but comments like those quoted from Tony Marsh are beyond the realm – it was good that so many of us pointed this out to him yesterday. We should all continue to do this when someone strays beyond the realm, it seems about the only way to silence a self appointed provocateur with a keyboard.

Andrew Keatley
54 Posted 21/01/2018 at 16:17:21
I am in agreement with Colman (18) and John (45); I've watched the passage of play leading-up to the injury a few times, and McCarthy has the ball for a good few seconds, and despite having a number of Everton players within 10 yards, none of them made any kind of effort to make themselves available for the pass. Schneiderlin belatedly made a token movement away – but almost to clear space for McCarthy rather than to actively want the ball. The others just strolled idly by.

While obviously the lack of movement did not actively cause the extremely unfortunate injury, it is indicative of the extent of our malaise. Players do not want the ball, do not trust one another, and unless we can inject some energy, some courage and – in basic terms – some off-the-ball running from our players then we will not improve.

Andrew Heffernan
55 Posted 21/01/2018 at 17:17:59
Best wishes to Jimmy,

As many said on here, some vile comments on the live forum yesterday. Never like seeing Blue on Blue, or players being talked about in that way.

We are all suffering this season. It's a game, and for all of the frustration it will improve.

Paul Appleyard
56 Posted 22/01/2018 at 15:49:53
Nasty injury. I know from personal experience, I suffered this in a bike crash. The "double" break is almost inevitable, as when the large shin bone (tibia) breaks, the tiny fibula bone (buried in the calf) nearly always breaks too.

The worst thing about this case is that it was a "compound" fracture, meaning the bone pierced the skin. This usually means more soft tissue damage, higher risk of infection (a nightmare in bone injuries) and longer recovery.

However, the break was probably fairly 'clean' (rather than shattered) and hopefully will be straightforward for the surgeons to repair. They'll probably use a pin. I'd guess there's a very good chance he'll make a full recovery. Several top footballers have from similar fractures. Fingers crossed.

Gerry Quinn
58 Posted 23/01/2018 at 17:02:42
I note another ex-Redshite has piped up with yet more unwarranted crap...

http://www.givemesport.com/1242249-stan-collymores-assessment-of-the-rondon-mccarthy-incident-is-just-disgraceful?autoplay=on

Mick Davies
59 Posted 23/01/2018 at 23:00:43
He never made waves by asking for a move, never moaned about not playing and always gives 100% on the pitch. When you're in a relegation fight, he's the sort of player you need.

Allardyce has said there will be no more signings this month!! Frightening considering we've got no left back and a very unreliable central defence and no McCarthy.


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