Everton boss Marco Silva has admitted he would like midfielder James McCarthy to stay at Goodison Park for the rest of the season, amid interest from Celtic, the Liverpool Echo report.
The 28-year-old returned to the Toffees’ matchday squad for the first time since his horrific double leg break last January in their 2-1 FA Cup victory over League Two side Lincoln City.
The Republic of Ireland international returned to training at the end of September but has not played a competitive game under Silva so far.
McCarthy has been a target for Brendan Rodgers at Celtic, with the former Liverpool boss keen on bolstering his midfield options this month.
However, talking ahead of the Toffees’ trip to Southampton, Silva revealed his wish regarding McCarthy.
If you ask me what I want, I want James to be part of our squad. To answer directly to you.
Even if it looks strange because he is not playing often or he is not making the squad list often, but if you ask me directly I will tell you it is something I want, for him to be part of the squad until the end of the season and then let’s see in the future because he has a contract (beyond that).
Despite Silva’s preference with McCarthy, the Portuguese boss couldn’t guarantee the Irishman regular game time from now until the end of the campaign.
Let’s see what will happen in the future but I cannot say, 100% to you, he will play minutes and minutes and minutes because you never know.
In that position you have players fighting to take that position but it something that could happen, but not just with him, with Morgan Schneiderlin, or Tom Davies, although he is a different profile as a more offensive player, and even the kid Beni.
