I get what you're saying about his injury history mate. He had a horrendous double leg break a couple of years back but it seems his biggest problem these days is down to picking up various niggles and strains, the fact that it's no the same recurring injury he's out with again and again could mean his issues are more down to not playing regularly enough than anything else.
You see it with players all the time...they're out long term with a serious injury, they recover from that injury but are only getting game time here and there when they come back and because of that inability to get a proper run of games to get their match fitness back up they start picking up groin strains, muscle strains and niggles in their hamstrings etc. Wee Forrest has had this same problem over the years.
If we can get McCarthy fully fit and get him back playing regularly then we could have an experienced no nonsense player who could add that much needed dig this team sorely needs without paying a penny in transfer fees. You're right we shouldnae be offering him a 3 year contract or anything like that but something shorter term that suits both parties could result in a clever bit of business.
Plus I wouldnae put McCarthy in that bracket of ex-EPL players just here for the 'Celtic experience' the bhoy is a Tim who would've signed for us years ago if Lawell hadn't offered Hamilton such a derisory transfer fee. Another one, just like John McGinn, who slipped through the net because of Lawell's lowballing negotiation tactics.