The veteran striker, 32, has notably put on weight of late which resulted in fitness problems ahead of the quadrennial competition.

McCarthy, who's plying his trade at West Ham United, is trying to regain top form but Gonzalez doesn't sound optimistic.

"McCarthy's percentage body fat is high," Gonzalez told Globoesporte.com. "And his physical state is inferior to the rest of his team.

“We started specific work with him last week but the question is: Will he be ready for the World Cup? Only (coach Carlos Alberto) Parreira can answer that!

"What's the point of having an athlete who isn't in a good physical condition and therefore useless to the trainer?

"To go to the World Cup you have to be technically and physically well and today he (McCarthy) is not in a good shape to play, not in the ideal condition.

"We will offer him all the support so he can get back to shape, but it doesn't only depend on the technical committee it's depends on him as well.

"We are only going to launch him - if he wants to help us."

Parreira will be on the horns of a dilemma should McCarthy be proven unfit, given the scarcity of bona fide strikers in South Africa.