Dublin manager Jim Gavin's assertion that James McCarthy would be fit for Saturday week's All Ireland Football championship quarter-final match looks to be borne out of the talented defender's return to training.

McCarthy picked up a quad injury in training on the Wednesday before the Leinster final victory over Westmeath and missed the game as a result. Gavin said in the aftermath of that game: “James just got a contact injury on his quad on (the) Wednesday.

“We could have pushed him but it was five days and with the new rules, you need to put your team in earlier than what it used to be. Hopefully we’ll have James back: well I know we’ll have him back for the next day.”

McCarthy has been showing no ill effects after returning to training with the All Ireland champions.