James McCarthy: 'Everton are prepared for artificial pitch'

James McCarthy has urged his Everton teammates to approach the test of playing on an artificial pitch with confidence ahead of their Europa League clash with Young Boys.

The Swiss side play their home games on a plastic pitch, but McCarthy, who had experience on a similar surface during his time with Hamilton, believes that Everton can handle the challenge in the first leg of the last-32 tie.

"It's a big change, especially in European football. We've training on it all week and we've got to know it a bit better," he told reporters.

"It's completely different, the speed and the bounce, the ball is always on the go, it never really stops.

"I'd prefer to play on grass but it's one of those things. It's their pitch and they play on astro so we've got to rise to the challenge."

Everton manager Roberto Martinez revealed on Wednesday that he had contacted former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp for advice about the playing surface.