Everton boss Marco Silva says he hasn't written off James McCarthy.

Silva admits he blocked the midfielder from leaving on-loan in January.

He told the Liverpool Echo: "James had one or two offers during the January market but we decided, as a club, not to let him go because as you know we have 20 outfield players in our squad, two for every position.

"And so when we decided to send Beni Baningime out on loan (to Wigan Athletic), we also decided to keep James.

"He is a player that stays in my mind. If you are asking me if he is fit? He is fit. Since he came back from his injury, apart from one or two issues but nothing to do with his injury, he is always training to his maximum and working hard, as you know James does.

"He doesn't stop and he is 100% ready. He needs games, he needs minutes in his legs but he is 100% ready, no doubts about that.

"If I have to decide to play him, he is ready."