McCarthy, who has played for England once, took over for Gavin Bazunu after the latter sustained an injury during warmups on Tuesday. Bazunu, aged 22, faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with a recovery period of at least nine months following surgery to mend his Achilles tendon, which took place on Thursday.
McCarthy made his first Championship start of the season in Tuesday’s 3-0 victory, despite not being initially included in the squad. Martin discussed Lumley’s reaction to being benched, stating on Friday, “It was a difficult decision. My brother showed me a comment online yesterday suggesting that if ‘I were Joe Lumley, I’d submit a transfer request immediately,’ which is absurd.”
“Joe and I had a thorough conversation on Wednesday. I didn’t anticipate him being pleased with the decision, but I explained to him why I believed it was the right choice at that moment.”
“Perhaps he still disagrees, but I hope he respects the decision. We shared a quick hug, and I thanked him for our conversation. With Alex, we have someone with extensive experience at the highest level. He’s represented his country, and we’ve witnessed Joe’s capabilities. I simply wanted to see what Alex could offer, and I believe he performed admirably. Despite having little to do, he remained composed and performed his duties with confidence.
His relaxed demeanor is invaluable at this stage of the season. Now, deciding on tomorrow’s lineup is a significant task.”
Lumley’s performances in the FA Cup this season earned him a one-year contract extension in March. McCarthy, aged 34, is approaching the end of his contract on the south coast and might leave on a free transfer this summer.