James McCarthy has emerged as a major doubt for next month's World Cup qualifiers.

The Everton midfielder missed this week's 2-2 draw with Serbia with a groin injury.

His club manager Ronald Koeman today confirmed McCarthy has had surgery, and will have very little time to prove himself ahead of meetings with Georgia and Moldova.

"McCarthy will be out for three weeks as he had groin surgery last Friday," he said.

The Georgia fixture is on October 6th, followed by the trip to Moldova for October 9th.