MAC’S IN LINE FOR TOFFEES RETURN

JAMES MCCARTHY will return to Everton’s squad today after almost 12 months on the sideline.

The Ireland star suffered a horrific double leg break during their 1-1 draw with West Brom on January 20 last year.

Mccarthy (above) returned to first-team training before Christmas, but has yet to feature in Toffees boss Marco Silva’s 18-man squad.

That will change when they host League Two side Lincoln today, and Silva did not rule out the midfielder, 28, starting at Goodison Park.

Silva said: “I can tell you he will be in the 18-man squad list for the match. If he is in the squad then he is ready to play.

“He is training every day with us in all the sessions. It is up to me to decide whether he starts.

“I cannot promise anything. If he is in our squad it is because he has the conditions to play. He is working very hard and showing quality.” Silva insisted that Mccarthy is a player he wants to give a chance to at the club despite speculation he could leave in this transfer window.

He said: “He is a player I looked at when I came here. I knew he had a really bad injury and the staff told me how many months he would be out.

“He is fighting to take what he wants – which is to be part of the squad.”

Everton have won just one of their last eight games – and have failed to win any of their last four matches at Goodison Park.

But Silva knows the importance of the FA Cup to the club as it is the last trophy they lifted back in 1995. He added: “The desire to win a trophy at this club is really big.

“This club won many things in the past and we have big respect for our fans’ desire to go on a good run.”