Coleman returns to captain Ireland

Friday, 23 March, 2018 13comments  |  Jump to most recent
Turkey 1 - 0 Republic of Ireland

Seamus Coleman took to the field for the Republic of Ireland this evening, a year after he suffered a horrific double leg-break in a World Cup qualifier against Wales.

The Everton fullback was back as captain of his country's side as they faced Turkey and his Goodison team-mate Cenk Tosun in a friendly in Antalya.

Both players figured for just over an hour as Turkey ran out 1-0 winners.

Coleman says that he doesn't bear any grudges against Neil Taylor, the Welsh left back whose part in the collision that cost the Irishman 10 months of his career as he went through lengthy rehabilitation.

“I haven't even thought of Neil Taylor five times since the injury,” the 29-year-old said in the Irish Times.

“He played a part in the tackle, and it wasn't a great tackle. I was going for the ball, he was a bit high.

“But these things happen in a tough international fixture, and if I hold any grudge against him it's not going to help me in my rehab. He has to get on with his journey and I have to get on with mine.

"If I hold any anger towards him it won't help me. Let him carry on with what he has to do, and I'll crack on myself.”

Any long layoff provides ample opportunity for reflection and fears to enter a player's mind that they might not recover from such serious injury.

Coleman insists that he never doubted that he would be back on the pitch playing at the top level of club and country.

“It never crossed my mind,” he explained. “I knew if I did everything I was told and the work I needed to do in the gym that I'd be back in the football pitch.

“I'm back now for five or six weeks and feel good in the games and hopefully I can do the same in the Irish shirt.”

His international manager, Martin O'Neill paid tribute to his skipper and described how much of a loss he has been to Ireland over the past year.

“I sometimes think he doesn't know himself how influential he is,” O'Neill said, “not only in the dressing-room but out on the field of play, which is the main part.

“I think it almost goes without saying that we missed him. Had he been fit, I think we may have made it, who knows, but he certainly would have given us a much better opportunity. I've said to him, I'd rather say it when he's not in the room, he's an absolutely world-class player.

“You talk about someone with a leg break getting back but even when we saw him in the hospital in the first few nights, when he was really down, you felt that with his determination he would get through. That's just his character.”

Tosun, meanwhile, has certainly been doing his bit to further the Blue cause in his country with Turks, it seems, adopting Everton as their chosen team in droves as the striker's Premier League career starts to take off.

"Cenk Tosun is the man of the moment in these parts," wrotes Emmet Malone in another Irish Times article, "with locals excitedly revealing themselves to English-speaking visitors as devoted Everton fans.

"Taxi drivers, their pride obvious, were asking their passengers if they know Tosun the way they surely would have known Arda Turan in his heyday a few years back."

Quotes sourced from Irish Times



Reader Comments (13)

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Neil Cremin
1 Posted 23/03/2018 at 18:58:58
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

A colossus already.

Dave Evans
2 Posted 23/03/2018 at 19:02:46
Not much of this recently but makes me proud they are part of the team I support.
Jack Ledwidge
4 Posted 23/03/2018 at 20:24:48
Steady display by Seamus. Nothing fancy. Captained the side this evening and has the respect of all around him. Sensibly subbed at 60 mins.

Tosun a handful. Strong and aggressive in a fair fashion. A decent performance by him. Subbed also on the hour mark.

So our two lads come home unscathed.

Lev Vellene
5 Posted 23/03/2018 at 21:37:41
Aahhh, Roy Keane will set him straight about his soft, forgiving nature! Never forgive, never forget! And blow it way out of proportion!!! Like an an irritated, armed warrior against an unsuspecting civilian just playing a game, not expecting a lopsided duel...

Nope, I'll never forget that assault on Man City's Haaland! Keane is a total psychopath, so I'll never trust any judgement of his...

Just the other half of the reason I don't trust Ireland's decisions after playing McCarthy based on his wishes, not on reality...

Jerome Shields
6 Posted 23/03/2018 at 23:43:13
I think it's too early after his recovery.
Alan McGuffog
7 Posted 24/03/2018 at 08:36:08
Hoping Cenk knocks a few more in over the next few weeks and keeps his profile up.

Off on my annual holiday to Turkey in May so I shall be milking it for all it is worth. "Yes, I am a Blue... a large raki? Thank you most kindly, efendi. Now, repeat after me: "Oh, to hell with Liverpool and Rangers too..."

John Davies
8 Posted 24/03/2018 at 13:33:04
Ireland's captain now; Everton's captain next season if our new manager has any sense.
Matthew Williams
9 Posted 24/03/2018 at 17:04:14
I'm surprised McCarthy didn't play?

Sorry... couldn't resist it!

Just glad our lads made it back in one piece this time.

Shane Corcoran
10 Posted 24/03/2018 at 17:27:49
Lev, I'd get myself checked out if I was you rather than worrying about Keane's mental condition.
Frank Wade
13 Posted 25/03/2018 at 12:20:38
Fair dues to Seamus. Can't see myself being so charitable. So pleased to see him make his recovery. Nice to get another game under his belt.

I saw a comment from Seamus saying that he and Cenk Tosun were good friends. A great team building comment making a newcomer feel welcome in the club.

With Everton's profile on the rise in Turkey, are we likely to exploit this commercially?

Alan Bodell
14 Posted 25/03/2018 at 20:30:22
i saw Alan Ball back in the late '60s and have always told anyone remotely interested he was my absolute favourite ever Everton player.

This feller is up there with Alan for me for his honesty, professionalism, hard work and wonderful ability, I just love him.

Neil Cremin
15 Posted 26/03/2018 at 20:19:36
Lev and Matthew,

You both must have got 6 A-levels each including an A+ in WIT.

Very smart, boys.

David Nicholls
16 Posted 28/03/2018 at 21:03:20
Jeez, there are some sensitive Republic of Ireland fans on here.

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