By John Harrington

Dublin manager Jim Gavin says defender James McCarthy is fit and available for selection for Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final against Donegal.

The wing-back sustained a quad injury in training before the Leinster Final against Westmeath, but Gavin is confident he has made a full recovery.

“He is available for selection,” said the Dublin manager today. “Obviously he hasn’t played for a few weeks, like, an inter-county game, but he is very experienced player and it is good to have him back.

“He has met all, probably was a bit ahead, of all his goals so it is just great to have him back on grass last week which is great news.”

Gavin concedes there is always a risk of aggravating an injury when a player returns to duty, but is confident McCarthy has not been rushed back ahead of time.

“Well I think any payer coming back for their first game there is always that threat,” he said. “Now it has been managed well and when player feels he is good to go and the medical team agrees with that consensus, that’s what I’ll take.

"I’ve never put any player under pressure to get back, the medical team is there, it is the players choice, once they feel they are 100 per cent we will go with that.”

McCarthy’s return to fitness is a big boost to Dublin because he is the player most likely to be given the role of man-marking Donegal danger-man Michael Murphy.

The defender did a good job of doing that in the League semi-final, and has been one of Dublin’s best players all year.

“Yeah he has, he has been excellent in that half-back line,” said Gavin. “Defensively, first and foremost, he has been very strong and obviously he gives us attacking options as well.

“But he is one of a number of players that is in that back division that are playing well. Everybody who has taken to the field to represent the county in that back division has done extremely well. We are lucky to have cover in that area.”