EVERTON HAVE suffered a blow with the news that club captain Seamus Coleman’s injury is worse than initially anticipated.
The Donegal native picked up the injury on international duty and could not complete Ireland’s clash with England earlier this month.
Boss Sean Dyche confirmed Coleman — who turns 36 next month — is set for an extended spell on the sides.
“Seamus is still injured and unfortunately it’s going to be longer than we hoped,” he said. So that’s not going to be a quick situation, we’re not sure of the timescales yet.”
Given that the extent of the injury is uncertain, Coleman could be doubtful for the remainder of Ireland’s Nations League campaign later this year.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side travel to face Finland (10 October) and Greece (13 October) before finishing with a home tie against the Finnish team (14 November) and a clash with England (17 November) at Wembley.
Coleman’s absence is one of several injuries for the Premier League strugglers.
Their defence has been particularly depleted. Jarrad Branthwaite is still recovering from his setback, while Michael Keane and James Tarkowski may also be unavailable for Saturday’s trip to Leicester.
That predicament could result in a full Premier League debut for Ireland international Jake O’Brien.
The 23-year-old Cork native joined the club for €20 million from Lyon in the summer and made his first top-flight appearance off the bench in last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa.
“He’s adapting to what it is,” Dyche said of O’Brien. “The nuts and bolts and nuances of the Premier League are different [to Ligue 1], without a doubt.
“But he is adapting well. We want a continuation of that.
“The biggest challenge is the real stuff when the Premier League whistle blows, that’s always the biggest challenge when they come from situations where they haven’t played in the Premier League, it’s about picking it up quickly and learning about the Premier League.”
Coleman gets injured a lot these days, probably time for him to retire from international duty. No question but that he takes fierce pride in representing and captaining his country.
@Bert Carolan: He is proud in representing his country alrite Bert. Thats not good enough for a lot of the people coming on here bashing the irish football team though. Plenty of them on here today about the new world rankings. Just cause they are not world beaters at the moment doesnt mean they are not proud to represent their country.
@Darren Murphy: Ironic that Colemans team mate is Michael Keane who admitted that he only played underage for Ireland to attract the attention of the English set up.
Think of the young lads who didn’t get capped for Ireland because the likes of him and Rice and Grealish got capped.
@Bert Carolan: The way keane is playing this season i dont think he would make the squad now.
I say this will be his last season Coleman. I feel if he can retire after playing X amount of years in the Premier league is some going. There was a time he was 1 of the best right backs in the league that’s how great he was now age has caught up with him and injuries take longer to get over.
He needs to retire id say but off its up to him not others
As an Evertonian Seamus has been incredible, a loyal servant but this could be his last year. The major problem for Everton is the cover from Rangers Patterson has been out injured more times than enough, sold Godfrey, sold Nkounkou (young talent) & Holgates a dud so Coleman is the best available.