The 20-year-old midfielder, signed from Hamilton in the summer of 2009, made a huge impression after being handed a first-team opportunity in a third-round tie against Hull 12 months ago. McCarthy, who had made just two previous appearances five months earlier, became a regular starter after that and has been badly missed since suffering an ankle injury in October. Martinez is now likely to field a number of youngsters as he rotates his squad to face Hull again in this year's third round on Saturday. The Spaniard said: "You can probably remember last year was the moment James McCarthy was born for us. "He worked really hard behind the scenes and got the opportunity in the FA Cup. "He never looked back after that. He showed he was ready and desperate to enjoy his football. "Since then he has been one of the best young players in the Barclays Premier League. "The FA Cup is really exciting, it is the best cup competition in world football. There is a special feeling about it. "We are all excited about tomorrow's game, to see if any other players can be born." Callum McManaman, Roman Golobart, Jordan Mustoe and James McArthur are among those likely to feature against the Championship side at the KC Stadium. Martinez added: "We are all excited about seeing young players who have worked so hard to have an opportunity. "If you look back, Leighton Baines was the last product that came through our ranks. "For the future we need to have a structure and the bravery to give youngsters time. We need to make sure we produce local talent." With his team 19th in the Premier League, Martinez has bigger priorities than this tie and his approach is likely to be replicated by a number of top-flight managers. Martinez is making no excuses for the fact his side will probably vary considerably from that which played in the midweek draw with Bolton. He said: "It is our fifth game in a 13-day period and to get any quality on the football pitch - that is impossible for certain players. "What we are not going to do is take one percent risk of a player getting injured. "We want to win the game, as we always do, but we want to try to find players who can add something for the rest of the season. That is very important. "I can understand that approach from any club, especially in the Premier League. "It is a key moment - we are in January - and it is a difficult period. "The amount of minutes we played over the Christmas period is going to make it very difficult for certain players. "We have to be careful in the manner we share the demands of this competition." Wigan have lost on-loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury sustained against Bolton. Chris Kirkland, Victor Moses, Franco di Santo, Mauro Boselli and McCarthy are also on the injury list while Charles N'Zogbia is suspended. Defender Emmerson Boyce is back in contention after 11 weeks out with a hamstring injury but may not be risked. Martinez said: "Any game we go into we want to win, there is no two ways about it. "We have got huge belief in the young players we have got at the football club and the only way to find out about them is to allow the ones who deserve it to have a chance to prove themselves. "In a competition full of tradition we will give players a unique opportunity to show what they can do. "That is why we are so excited about the game. "Hopefully at the end of the game we will have a bigger squad for the rest of the season."
