Killybegs man Seamus Coleman.
BY CHRIS MCNULTY
SEAMUS Coleman was named Man of the Match for Everton on Saturday in a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Swansea City on Saturday.
Coleman has now played two games on the bounce since returning from the hamstring injury, which left him out of action over the busy Christmas period. Against Cheltenham last Monday he scored a cracking fourth goal, an eye-catching lob, as Everton advanced to the next round of the FA Cup.
Now that he’s returned to right-back for David Moyes’ team, the 24-year old Killybegs man is aiming to stay there.
“I’m feeling good,” he said.
“It was disappointing to miss the Christmas period.
“It was good to get back for the cup game last week and hopefully I can go from now until the end of the season without any injuries.”
Coleman had a sniff of goal at one stage himself again on Saturday, but just as it seemed he was about to score, captain Phil Neville took the shot from his toe and missed – prompting a volley of frustration from Coleman.
The Republic of Ireland international said it was a frustrating game at Goodison Park.
He said: “They (Swansea) came here with a game-plan to maybe leave with a point and they got that.
“We got a lot of chances and possession but we just couldn’t break them down which was unfortunate.
“It was one of those days. I tried to get forward as much as I could and put a few balls in the box but unfortunately no-one was there to put them in. On another day we would have scored, but that’s part and parcel of football.”
A recent defeat to Chelsea has been Everton’s only defeat in their last 11. An FA Cup clash against Bolton or Sunderland looms in a couple of weeks’ time, while they are next in Premier League action next Monday at Southampton.
Everton are currently fifth and have eyes on European qualification.
Coleman said: “I think the Christmas period was really important and the lads got through that brilliantly and started off the new year well too.
“We will have a good week now in training and look forward to the next game.”
David Moyes, the Everton manager, has hailed the return of Coleman to his team.
Moyes said: “Obviously Seamus offers one or two different things when he plays right-back. We’re glad to get him back,” said Moyes.
“He’s a very good player and he is improving. He is a young boy as far as football goes because he is pretty new into the professional scene.
“He learnt a little bit of his trade as a wide attacking player, albeit he has always been a full-back.
“He provided one or two opportunities for us and maybe we should have attacked them a bit more.”
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