Everton youngster Seamus Coleman on comeback trail
By Liverpool Echo | 8 Oct 2009 00:00
YOUNG Everton full-back Seamus Coleman is desperate to make up for lost time this weekend – after recovering from a horrific injury which might have ended his career before it even started.
The youngster played 82 minutes for Everton reserves on Tuesday night and is in the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad who attempt to revive their European Championship qualifying campaign.
The Irish face Georgia at Tallaght Stadium tomorrow evening and Switzerland in Waterford next Tuesday.
But for a long time Coleman couldn’t even consider kicking a football, after collecting a bizarre injury during Everton’s pre-season tour of the USA.
He said: “It was just a blister which got infected and the infection nearly went to the bone.
“According to the physios, it could have been disastrous. They didn’t tell me at the time, they told me after it was all all right, but it was quite serious.
“They told me if I was maybe playing part-time football or on holiday when it happened, it could have been a lot worse.
“But they got to it in time.”
After Coleman’s comeback for the Blues reserves on Tuesday night reserve team coach Alan Stubbs added: “Seamus’ return was the biggest plus. Were it not for his injury in the summer, he may well have been knocking on the door (for the first team) already.
“I actually saw a picture of the injury the other day and it was horrendous.
“He had a blister which led to an infection, which in turn led to a big hole in his foot, amongst other things.
“Everyone at the Club is glad to see him back though and to see him playing again was good.”
The defender, who turns 21 on Sunday, spent most of the pre-season tour of America in hospital.
Had the full severity of the infection been overlooked, Coleman’s career could have been in jeopardy.
Everton physio Mick Rathbone said: “When we got off the plane in Seattle the doctor gave Seamus some strong antibiotics because the foot was sore but the infection started eating away quickly.
“When the blister was operated on the surgeon explained Doctor Irving had probably saved the lad's career by acting so quickly.”
Coleman played 82 minutes for Everton reserves as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on Tuesday.
His three month absence has stalled his progress – but now he is keen to play as much football as possible.
Ireland’s under-21s have taken just one point from their two games to date.
Last month’s 1-1 draw in Estonia followed a 3-0 home defeat by Turkey and Don Givens’ men need to start their points tally ticking over in earnest if they are to stand a chance of qualifying.
Coleman said: “Definitely. We really need to get some points out of these two games. I know all the lads will be going out to win the two games.
“If we can do that, we will be sitting nicely again.
“We do have a good squad of players and we haven’t won a game yet. But we have two games coming up in a week and hopefully we can win the two of them because we have a good enough team.
“It would be nice to qualify for it this year, so we really want to win the two games.”
The Donegal-born defender got his big chance in January when he made his move to Goodison Park from Sligo Rovers, only for the bizarre injury to set him back.
