FORMER IRELAND MIDFIELDER Kevin Sheedy has backed Seamus Coleman to rediscover his form and push hard for a place on the plane to Poland this summer.
The full-back made his first Premier League appearance of 2012 for Everton in the 1-1 draw with QPR on Saturday and although he was included in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for the friendly with the Czech Republic, wasn’t introduced from the bench.
Sheedy, who won two titles and a European Cup Winners’ Cup with the Toffees in the ’80s, now manages the club’s U18 side and believes the 23-year-old from Killybegs has got the character to earn a spot in the final 23-man squad.
“Knowing Seamus and his determination, he’ll give himself every opportunity (to get into the squad),” Sheedy said yesterday. “He’s been injured but played for the reserves against Liverpool this week so he’s on the comeback trail.
I know exactly what he’ll be going through because right before Germany I had a couple of injuries and it wasn’t til the last moment that I proved my fitness. I can feel for the likes of Seamus and Richard, who have got to prove they are right.”
On fellow Ireland youngster Shane Duffy, Sheedy reveals the club were slightly shocked at how fast the defender has developed in recent times but sees a big future for him in the game.
“Shane has surprised people in how quickly he has progressed. He was really raw when he first came to us. He loves heading the ball in both boxes and is a threat for set pieces.
“Playing in the first team he has shown a lot of maturity so early and gained a lot of confidence. He’s an old-fashioned centre-half and has kicked on.”
The pair were joined by another compatriot in Darron Gibson during the January transfer window, when the midfielder arrived from Manchester United, and Sheedy adds that consistent first-team football at Goodison Park will undoubtedly lead to an improvement in the Derry man’s performances.
“He’s settled okay. He needs games and looked a little bit off the pace in his first few but he has scored and will get regular games.
“The move will be a good one for him. Our manager (David Moyes) has got a track record of bringing in players like that who have maybe lost their way a little bit. He’s certainly a talented player but just needs games.”
