Everton legend Kevin Sheedy says James McCarthy can fulfil his ambitions by staying at Goodison Park.

McCarthy's absence in crucial games at the back end of 2014 helped to highlight his importance to the Everton and Irish cause and Sheedy believes the Scottish-born 24-year-old can achieve all his ambitions in the royal blue shirt he once wore with so much pride.

"McCarthy was our Player of the Year last season and that was in a team full of players who were flying for most of the campaign," Everton youth coach Sheedy told the Sunday World. "In my eyes, one of the reasons we have struggled this season is we have missed the influence of James especially in that midfield area.

"He developed a great understanding with Gareth Barry in midfield and it gave the team a fantastic platform to build on, but these hamstring injuries can been a recurring problem and it has been a problem for James in recent months.

"His dynamic style of play might well be contributing to his fitness problems. James explodes into life on the pitch and reminds me of Paul Bracewell in the successful Everton team I played in and maybe he has traits that Roy Keane had in that role as well.

"At his best, James covers every inch of grass on the field, but you are restricted when you are carrying hamstring problems. There is no better midfielder in the Premier League than James McCarthy and we need to get him back to his best as soon as possible."