Driven McCarthy seeks Euro exposure

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Everton are right in the thick of the battle for a top four finish — aided in no small part by the form of McCarthy following his €15.5m summer switch from Wigan.

McCarthy, who lines-up for Everton against Stoke City today, said: “We want to push as high as we can and I think this season we are doing well at this moment in time.

“But there is still a long way to go and we won’t get carried away.

“But you want Champions League football, you want European football. We are no different to any other club.”

Playing in the Champions League would continue a meteoric rise for McCarthy.

The only dip so far has been relegation with Wigan last season — only three days after the Latics had won the FA Cup.

McCarthy added: “It has been a year of ups and downs, to be honest. Winning the FA Cup was the highlight of my career, obviously.

“But you never want to get relegated, especially at Wigan where I had four great years.

“The gaffer [Roberto Martinez] obviously moved to Everton and he wanted to bring me here and, no disrespect to Wigan, it is a much bigger club.

“I am playing and I am really enjoying life. He is the same old Roberto. He has come in and he has brought the philosophy of getting on the ball and making passes and I think that we have adapted really well to it.

“The gaffer has taken the team to a different level.

“He is a top, top manager and I think that everyone is starting to learn that he has got something and he will go to the very top, for sure.”