McCarthy pulls out of Ireland squad

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have confirmed that James McCarthy will miss games against Scotland and the USA with a hamstring injury.

The Everton midfielder picked up the injury in the closing stages of Sunday's 1-1 draw at Sunderland. But such is McCarthy's commitment he continued to play on despite the injury, even managing to clear Wes Brown's stoppage time header off his own goal-line.

Everton made their own assessment after the game, but allowed the 24-year-old to join up with the Ireland squad so they could also make their own judgement.

After two days spent at the squad's training base near Dublin McCarthy has now been released back to Everton where he will continue his rehabilitation.

Though we still don't know the severity of the injury, the international break does at least give McCarthy two weeks to try and recover without missing a game.

With Muhamed Besic and Darron Gibson waiting in the wings though, Roberto Martinez has cover in that area of the field.

Therefore I expect the club to take no risks with his rehabilitation, meaning he must be considered a severe doubt for Everton's first game after the break against West Ham on November 22.