Ireland fans are still coming to terms with the injury to Seamus Coleman. The Irish captain is unlikely to play again in 2017 after suffering a broken leg during last Friday's World Cup qualifier against Wales. Martin O'Neill has backed the Donegal man to come back stronger and better from the horrific injury.
Coleman's injury is also a huge blow for Everton who have to plan without one of their most consistent performers. The 28 year old has been in superb form for the Toffees in the Premier League this season whether it's as a right back or wing back.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman probably wasn't too happy with the Irish management for trying to get James McCarthy back in time for the Welsh game but as it turns out the midfielder didn't make it through the warm up.
Koeman has also backed Coleman to come back strongly and he described the Ireland captain as " one of the best professionals I’ve ever worked with at any club ".
The Everton manager who spoke to Coleman on Saturday told the club website:
" It’s a big, big blow for the player and a big, big blow for the club It takes time for everybody to come to terms with something like this and, of course, that is felt most deeply by Seamus himself.
He was in pain when we spoke - it is normal to have some pain after such an injury – and, naturally, he was feeling very down. This is all normal. But he knows he will have a lot of support and the reaction of Evertonians, their thoughts and good wishes and the reaction of so many other people as well who follow the game will mean a lot to Seamus.
" In all my years in football, Seamus is one of the best professionals I’ve ever worked with at any club.
" His dedication to the game, his attitude and motivation are always where they should be and that’s 100 per cent, and he’s like that in training every day as well as in games.
" That mentality will really be helpful to him now in not only coming to terms with what has happened but in setting out on the road to recovery and, over time, in him building himself once more to the level he has maintained over many years here at Everton. That strength of character will be a big, big thing. "
" The length of time he has been at the Club, the kind of player he is, the fact that he takes such a keen interest in the community here – only a couple of weeks ago, I believe, he was at Everton Free School for a game involving Everton in the Community’s Down Syndrome team – all of these things mean that he is held in high esteem by Evertonians.
" And he is valued very much as a player, which makes it really difficult that we are talking about an injury that will keep him out for six, seven months, something like that.
" But I know he will come back strongly, that’s the type of man he is. And he will have support from everyone around him, too, which he knows.
" It won’t be easy what he has to face but he has the character to overcome this, I am sure. "
