Twenty-two year old McCarthy has been in good form for the Latics this season and the two goals scored against QPR at the weekend were the icing on the cake of an impressive performance.
Latics boss Roberto Martinez todl the Wigan Evening Post after the game that he is pleased with the progress that McCarthy is making and he believes the young Irish international can go on to play at the very top level of world football.
Martinez said: “If you don’t play you’ll never fulfil your potential. James has been through two very intense seasons, being very successful and having a massive role and the way he’s developing as a player is something he would never do if he wasn’t playing regularly.
“This season is an important moment for him. He’s starting to have a big role with the Republic of Ireland and you could see (against QPR) he took responsibility, he drove the team forward and at 22 it shows the future for James is really impressive and that’s why we put such a big investment in him from a very young age.”
McCarthy was re-united in midfield with James McArthur who has had a spell on the sideliens with injury. Both are expected to line up in hte weekend's fixture with Norwich City.