Martinez concerned by McCarthy injury

, 28 November, 18comments | Jump to most recent

Roberto Martinez says that James McCarthy will be assessed again within 24 hours after he was forced off during tonight's win in Wolfsburg with a recurrence of his hamstring problem.

McCarthy had to be substituted with a little over half-an-hour gone of the Blues' 2-0 win after pulling up clutching his thigh and his manager admits that he is concerned by the Irishman's latest relapse.

“He has had a long-standing problem with his hamstring," Martinez said after the match of his latest injury casualty who will now be ruled out of Sunday's trip to Tottenham.

“He felt it out there and we will assess him over the next 24 hours.

“He's such a high-intensity player that his soft tissue suffers a lot. He's a sprinter and we hope he didn't hurt himself too much.

“But it is a worrying sign when it is a problem we've had for the last few weeks, and maybe we need to find the real reason behind it."

Reader Comments (18)

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Harold Matthews
1 Posted 28/11/2014 at 05:23:03

It looked like he'd pulled a thigh muscle, which can often happen 2nd game back after a layoff. It always happens early.

David Ellis
2 Posted 28/11/2014 at 06:41:22

Hopefully we won't rush him back. But with Barry, McCarthy and Gibson (oh where are you when we need you Gibson!) all injured at the same time it could be a busy few weeks for Besic and Osman.
Any more injuries in central midfield and Baines will be playing there (if he were not also injured of course!)

Simon Harris
3 Posted 28/11/2014 at 07:10:45

Naismith was clearly knackered after the international games but was flogged until injury struck.

McCarthy pulled up and was allowed to carry on after only just returning from injury.

Mirallas will be next. (At least he did eventually take him off.)

You've got a squad, Martinez... use it, and stop risking the fitness of your key players.

Erik Dols
4 Posted 28/11/2014 at 07:37:09

These are nasty injuries that can bug you for months Â– I can tell from personal experience... although McCarthy obviously has more footballing talent in the nail of his left thumb than I ever can dream of having. You feel all right after some rest and all of a sudden, a sprint in full speed or an unexpected movement and bam, it's back. Only thing that helped me was giving it a rest for 6 weeks.

Trevor Lynes
5 Posted 28/11/2014 at 08:23:36

Yes it certainly is the scourge of modern football. Perhaps it's the game's extra pace as it was not so prevalent years ago. The midfield, which seemed to be our strongest area, has now become a concern and these top players are needed against the best teams.

I was delighted at the Wolfsburg result as it looked to be a difficult game. Maybe we can have Oviedo back soon and he can cover Besic and Osman. It seems that Gibson cannot be relied on for any length of time. Surely Pienaar must be near fitness too??

If Baines comes back, then maybe Garbutt could develop into a left-sided defensive midfielder.

Tony Doran
6 Posted 28/11/2014 at 10:25:38

Why haven't you found out the real reason for it yet? If you're telling me that there's more can be done, why wasn't it done in the beginning?

Bloody hell Â– it's not some Sunday league pisshead team.

Geoff Evans
7 Posted 28/11/2014 at 10:44:33

Hamstring injuries need rest (a minimum 6 weeks), end of.

Tony J Williams
8 Posted 28/11/2014 at 12:24:27

I'm afraid I don't hold a degree or any medical diploma but I can hazard a guess that the underlying problem is that his hammy was a littler bit fucked previously and he played too soon.

I know, right? Madness this logical thinking thingymijig....

Kev Thomas
9 Posted 28/11/2014 at 12:27:37

This is my only real problem with Martinez, playing people with knocks and potential injuries. For a qualified physiotherapist it seems strange.

He’s obviously of the "that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger" mentality. Works well for ATOS & A4E but not so much as a football manager.

Matt Traynor
10 Posted 28/11/2014 at 12:51:26

David (#2), you're right, but I fear Besic won't get the run of games you predict. I may have got it wrong, but I thought Osman took a yellow that should've gone to him off the ref last night. His limited Prem appearances so far suggest he's already a marked man in the eyes of referees, even though he's no worse than that narky little glass-ankled chain-smoker, Wilshere.

Jim Bennings
11 Posted 28/11/2014 at 14:56:35

Very concerned with McCarthy's problem, he really shouldn't have started last night but it's all hindsight, though he was clearly a risk carrying that injury.

It means we will really miss him now also with our busy time before Christmas.

A problem that needs looking at sooner rather than later.

Relying on Gibson being available would be like relying on a paper house keeping you safe in a hurricane.

The fella is goosed again, surprise surprise.

Paul Andrews
12 Posted 28/11/2014 at 16:18:43

Roy Keane just walked out on Villa.

Perhaps we could employ him to provide miracle cures to our injured players.

Denis Richardson
13 Posted 28/11/2014 at 16:25:29

McCarthy in hindsight should not have played last night, having just come back from injury. However, all is not lost as Barry's not too far off being back.

Besic simply has to start on Sunday and I'd give Osman a go in the middle again if Barry is not 100%. Spurs will also have a few out injured so won't be at their strongest. I'd be careful of rushing Barry back too soon given we have another game on Wednesday. Pienaar and Baines should also be back hopefully.

Personally I'd look to get rid of Gibson and Alcaraz in the summer although I cannot see any club coming in for Gibbo. Both players unfortunately are just too injury prone and can barely string 3 games together. Must be hugely frustrating for them but at some point you've got to say we gave it a good go but enough's enough. Alcaraz's contract is up in the summer anyway but we gave Gibson a 5(!)-year contract when he signed, even though we knew he was massively injury prone Â– so he's with us till 2016.

Linda Morrison
14 Posted 28/11/2014 at 16:57:04

Denis, I know where you are coming from but I would be very surprised if another EPL club shelled out for Gibson. After all, 2016 isn't that far off.

According the EFC website, we will definitely be without McCarthy on Sunday but with a chance of some of the injured lot being back.

I'd be surprised if Barry is back as you usually need a couple of months to recover from ligament damage, even a hard nut like him.

I think Baines and hopefully Pienaar will be back. Leave Besic and Ossie in midfield.

A point on Sunday would be OK and a win Wednesday...

Jim Bennings
15 Posted 28/11/2014 at 17:42:12

There's a strong possibility a Championship club may be happy to take the risk on Gibson, and let's be honest, it's getting so predictable that you can't even call it risk anymore, it's just obvious to anyone who takes him that he is only going to feature in 10-15 games at best.

He'd do a decent job for someone like a Blackburn or a side along those lines, let's not forget, Reading took on Royston Drenthe, who's now at Sheffield Wednesday.

Colin Glassar
17 Posted 28/11/2014 at 19:29:36

Pienaar, Baines and Coleman should all be fit for Sunday.

Andy Meighan
18 Posted 28/11/2014 at 21:51:14

How is Besic already a marked man in some refereesÂ’ eyes? HeÂ’s hardly started any Premier League games. Some of these statements baffle me. How can refs mark his card if they hardly know who he is?

Harold Matthews
21 Posted 29/11/2014 at 13:31:38

Must be the tatts, Andy.

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