Advertisement
Coleman stretchered off during last night's game. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Get Well Soon

Seamus Coleman unlikely to return until 2018 after undergoing surgery

The Ireland captain is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Updated at 15.26 

SEAMUS COLEMAN HAS undergone surgery in Dublin this morning after suffering a fracture to his right tibia and fibula during last night’s World Cup qualifier against Wales.

Coleman sustained the horrific injury in the 69th minute of the 0-0 draw at the Aviva Stadium after a challenge from Welsh full-back Neil Taylor. The average recovery time for the injury he sustained is nine months, though this can vary depending on the extent of the damage.

The Ireland captain underwent the procedure under the care of the FAI’s Orthopaedic Surgeon, Professor John O’Byrne and Mr. Gary O’Toole, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon.

Coleman is now facing an extended injury layoff with the Everton defender unlikely to feature again in the rest of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

He will miss the rest of the Premier League season while the Killybegs native will be sidelined for Ireland’s next Group D assignments against Austria on 11 June and the September double-header against Georgia and Serbia.

Martin O’Neill’s side conclude their campaign against Moldova and Wales in October.

“Seamus has been a terrific captain for his country, and on behalf of the FAI Board and everyone in the Association, I want to send Seamus our very best wishes,” FAI chief executive, John Delaney, said.

“We look forward to welcoming Seamus back to the Ireland team, following his recovery.”

“He has had an exceptional season with both club and country, and he will be a big loss,” Ireland boss Martin O’Neill added.

“But Seamus is so mentally strong that when he has fully recovered he will be as brilliant as before.”

Meanwhile, John O’Shea, James McCarthy, Glenn Whelan and Jonathan Walters will not feature in Tuesday’s friendly against Iceland with all four returning to their clubs after last night’s game.

Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

‘We’ve 11 points on the board. I would have taken that at the start of the group’

A night in which football felt secondary

Your Voice
Readers Comments
43
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.