McCarthy’s “Serious Problem”

Roberto Martinez is concerned with James McCarthy’s persistent hamstring issues.

McCarthy returned from a short spell out with a hamstring problem last weekend but limped off after only half an hour of Thursday’s Europa League clash against Wolfsburg.

Martinez: “We’re going to get him checked today. The reaction was good from last night but we’ll find out exactly what the extent is.

“It’s the hamstring that he had a bit of trouble with beforehand and we need to assess it with a lot of intention. It’s a serious problem because it’s a problem he’s had before and we need to make sure we find the root of the problem.

“I would have had regrets if the injury had happened in the 80th minute, because clearly then it’s because the tissues were fatigued and you’re running a bigger risk.

“Football is a contact sport and you always run the risk of injuries. Yesterday was different. It was after 10/15 minutes, the soft tissues should have been in good condition.

“If you could predict what could happen, obviously you would stop those sort of incidents.”