James McCarthy is on course to make his long-awaited return from injury when Everton visit Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, manager Roberto Martinez has revealed.
McCarthy, 24, has been struggling with a hamstring problem for more than two months, and has not played at all since Dec. 28, when he was forced off halfway through the 3-2 Premier League defeat at Newcastle United.
Everton, who are four points above the relegation zone, have won only one of the 13 matches McCarthy has missed this season -- a 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers on Dec. 15.
But Martinez said on Jan. 8 that he believed the club had finally got to the bottom of the Republic of Ireland international's injury problems.
McCarthy has taken part in full training sessions during Everton's warm-weather training break in Qatar over the last few days. And the manager is hopeful of being able to recall him for the trip to Selhurst Park.
Martinez told the Liverpool Echo: "This week has allowed James to build up his fitness levels and I do expect him to be fully fit and ready for Crystal Palace."
Centre-back Sylvain Distin, who has not played since suffering a groin injury during the 1-1 FA Cup third-round draw at home to West Ham on Jan. 6, is also close to a return, according to the manager.
Martinez said: "It is really positive. Sylvain and James are really progressing a lot in this warm weather. They have both joined the group in training and have come through really well.
"So I see James as fully fit now but we will assess everybody before the Crystal Palace game."