GIF: James McCarthy was on the receiving end of a horrendous two-footed tackle in a friendly yesterday

Nothing friendly about this tackle we’re afraid…

Although it’s important to get players’ fitness and touch up to speed in time for the new season, pre-season friendlies are meant to be fairly pedestrian and good-spirited affairs in what is essentially a tuning-up exercise for players from both sides. Somebody obviously forgot to say that to one Celta Vigo player before last night’s friendly clash with Everton at Prenton Park, where Irish midfielder James McCarthy was on the end of an awful two-footed challenge during a 3-1 defeat to the Spanish side. Gif via Metro Probably because it was a friendly, the perpetrator was allowed to remain on the pitch and thankfully, McCarthy walked away with only a bit of bruising, but that sort of tackle can end careers and McCarthy is fortunate he’s not looking at a lengthy spell on the sidelines as a result. Ouch. Hat-tip: Metro