Seamus Coleman is one of a number of young Irish internationals focused on making the Ireland squad for the Euro 2012 finals in Poland next summer, but all must convince Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni to include them on the European adventure.
The Everton defender is one of a number of players fighting to make Trap’s final 23 man squad for the Group C games against Croatia, Spain and Italy.
The Killybegs born midfielder knows he has to find favour with his international manager before the Euro 2012 squads are named next May.
“The only thing to do now is to play well for your club week in and week out between now and the end of the season and show the manager what you can do,” said the Goodison Park favourite
Meanwhile Trapattoni has challenged James McCarthy to find his voice and force his way into Ireland's squad for the Euro's.
McCarthy put in a man-of-the-match performance for Wigan against Chelsea last Saturday and Trapattoni sent the 21-year-old midfielder a message of congratulations afterwards.
Trap said - "James did well and I sent him a message saying 'bravo'," said Trapattoni. "He answer me also. He can grow very well. But, he is still a little shy. He can play many good balls. But he can call for the ball too. Sometimes, he is free. If he is more vocal, he can improve 30pc more.
"When I was a young player, I played immediately. In the past, James didn't play. But now he's started playing again and that's very, very important because he has a good quality."
And Trapattoni has also warned Darron Gibson that it's in his best interests to seek a new club when the transfer window opens in January.
"I know the way he thinks and this is his intention, I know he wishes to go for this situation but it depends on what agents and his manager will say," Trapattoni said.
"Gibson has great vision and he shoots very well. but in the Wolves game, Manchester United won 4-1 and he was on the bench so it is hard for him."
Although Derry born Gibson is still in Trapattoni's plans, the Italian admits that he will find it hard to select him for next summer's European Championships if he does not start playing more regularly by getting a move away from Old Trafford.
"It is a problem now that he stays on the bench. In one month it is very difficult to recover your condition,"
Ireland international Seamus Coleman believes his background in Gaelic football has put him in good stead for life in the Premier League with Everton.
The 23-year-old tasted success with underage Donegal teams and well as his club side Killybegs before opting to pursue a career in soccer when former Sligo Rovers manager Sean Connor saw enough of the St Catherine’s defender to offer him a contract in the League of Ireland. Five years ago tomorrow Coleman made his first team bow as a late substitute in a 5-0 FAI Cup replay loss at Derry City’s hands before joining the Merseyside giants just over two years later after a couple of excellent seasons at the Showgrounds.
Had fate decreed otherwise, Coleman might well have played before the 81,436 supporters who descended on Croke Park in August for Donegal’s All-Ireland semi-final against the eventual champions, Dublin. He was a recognisable face in the crowd instead, able to attend as he recovered from an ankle ligament injury.
“Gaelic was always my No1,” Coleman told The Guardian. “I played bits and pieces of soccer but I didn’t have a serious commitment to it. Gaelic was my chosen sport but when I was 18 I was offered a chance with Sligo and €150 a week. I thought I should at least give it a go because I could always go back to Gaelic if it didn’t work out. That was the plan anyway, but I haven’t looked back since, to be honest. It’s been unbelievable.
“I’d played Gaelic all my life and I loved it. I was on the county teams and we’d been quite successful. It was a tough decision to leave it behind. I didn’t want to leave a team that had all my mates in it. I still follow Donegal and Killybegs and keep in touch with the lads there. I’ll go whenever I can. I was playing Gaelic every week for my home town and we were winning, so it was difficult to move away from all that but, at the same time, I’d wanted to play in the Premier League in England since I was a boy.”
Coleman’s first appearance for Everton was one he has since put down to experience. Two years ago, the right-back was thrown in on the opposite flank at Benfica’s Stadium of Light, with the striking talents of Pablo Aimar, Javier Saviola, Oscar Cardozo and, particularly that night in Lisbon, Angel di María. And similarly to the Bradywell on his Sligo bow, Coleman’s debut was a demoralising 5-0 loss.
Redemption came in early December at Goodison Park when Coleman was flung from the bench in the first half to play significant roles in the lead-up to goals from Louis Saha and Tim Cahill as Everton came from two down to force a home point against Tottenham Hotspur. The strength, energy and honesty he brought to Everton’s right wing that night, which secured a regular first-team role the following season, was born of his own education.
“I think some of my Gaelic experience has been useful here,” he says. “It’s a harder game for a start. If you get pushed you get straight back up. You don’t roll around looking at the referee for a free-kick and you wouldn’t get one if you did in Gaelic. It’s a fight – nothing too serious, but it is pure determination and I think I brought that with me here. I just had to play soccer the way I played Gaelic and thankfully it worked out.”
After a successful loan at Blackpool where Coleman played a significant role in the club’s dramatic promotion via the play-off finals, there was a repositioning on his return to Goodison. Last September at Craven Cottage, Everton manager David Moyes opted to push Coleman on from right-back to the wing and by the time the tills were totted at the end of the campaign, the Killybegs native was named the club’s young player of the year, scoring five goals and obtaining four international senior caps. He’ll be making the trip to Tallinn next month for the crucial Euro 2012 play-off, having been named in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad on Friday.
This season, Coleman’s steady rise on the progress chart was stunted before it got a chance to develop. In a pre-season fixture against La Liga side Villarreal, Coleman was the victim of a horrendous challenge from Carlos Marchena. The ligament damage wasn’t as bad as initially feared but it meant a lay-off of four weeks but Coleman, in his own innocent way, made his way back to fitness and set up Saha’s leveller against Chelsea in the Carling Cup on Wednesday before starting against Manchester United on Saturday. He’s still living the dream.
“I got injured at the wrong time and came back quicker than I was expecting,” he adds. “I played a few games and I think I could have done better in them but it’s a long season,” he says. “This season has been harder. Teams know more about you in your second season and you have to adapt. The manager has spoken to me a few times about what I need to do and what I can add to my game. Last season was fantastic for me and I need to build on that now.
“I do find it hard to believe where I am. I’d never say no to a photo or an autograph because a couple of years ago I was the one asking. You will never hear anyone in the changing room complaining about the club’s finances. We are at Everton to do a job. We’ve got great supporters who are fully behind us and, let’s be honest, we are spoilt rotten. The facilities are fantastic, the kitchen staff, everyone, is so friendly and I just love the place. I will never take it for granted, that’s for sure.”By Alan Foley - Donegal Democrat
Irish international Seamus Coleman scooped the Everton Young Player of the Season award at the BT convention centre in Liverpool last night
Having broken into the first team last season, the Donegal born Irishman has made massive progress since making his full Premier League debut at Fulham in September, making 39 appearances and scoring six goals.
The Killybegs winger received his award from Phil Jagielka and Leon Osman and declared: “I’m shocked. A couple of years ago I didn’t think I’d even be at Everton, let alone winning a young player of the year award.
Everyone’s been great with me since I came over, the fans and everyone in the first team squad. I’m delighted.”
Speaking after the award ceremony Toffee’s boss David Moyes said: "Seamus did tremendously well at Blackpool last season and he's given us something fresh and new this year. He's been great and, with what we've seen, we hope he'll be able to step up again."
Coleman is expected to be in the starting line-up when Everton conclude their Premiership campaign at home to Chelsea on Sunday
Ireland international Seamus Coleman has been speaking about his delight at being shortlisted for the Premiership PFA Young Player of the Year award.
The Killybegs born player has flourished during the season for Everton and has become an integral part of David Moyes starting eleven.
His superb club form earned the former Sligo Rovers man promotion to the Ireland squad and he made his debut in the 3-0 victory over Wales at the Aviva Stadium in February.
The 22-year-old has been nominated alongside Gareth Bale, Jack Wilshere, Nani, Joe Hart, Samir Nasri and Javier Hernandez for the coveted end of season prize.
Speaking on the Everton website of his pride at being short-listed he said
"It is fantastic news, at the start of the season I would not have expected that and when you see the names on that shortlist, it is just a great achievement to be mentioned alongside them.
"At the start of the season I hoped things would go this well but if I am honest then I probably did not think they would.
"Sometimes I still have to pinch myself. Two years ago I was at Sligo and now and then I look around the changing room here and think ‘wow, this is really happening to me'.
"I certainly did not expect to play this many matches and also not as a right midfielder, but I have just tried to take it game by game and do my best."
He added: "There have been so many good young players this season it is hard to pick out individuals.
"Obviously Gareth Bale stands out and he will probably be in the running for the main award. Then there is Jack Wilshere who played against Barcelona and was one of the best players over the two legs. There are lots of contenders and too many to mention everyone.
"I am sure the other lads might think about winning it but for me just to be in the top seven is fantastic and an achievement in itself.
"Obviously the most important thing is the team doing well. But personal accolades are nice as well. They are what you want as it shows that you are doing well, but I would not be up for any award without the coaching staff here and my teammates.
"I think the first season you can maybe take people by surprise but to be consistent you have to do it every year and there are plenty of guys here I can learn from and I just want to keep getting better with Everton."
Everton’s 2-1 win over Fulham, and a Seamus Coleman goal was the perfect way for the young Killybegs born international to head into next Saturday's Euro 2012 game against Macedonia and the Uruguay friendly the following Tuesday.
The young Irishman says the win over Mark Hughes' side has given Everton a big lift ahead of the fixture gap, and he hopes to see the team return to Merseyside with the same level of optimism once the international fixtures are complete.
Coleman is one of David Moyes' players who will be heading off on international duty, and the 22-year-old is delighted to be leaving on the back of a home victory.
"It's what we wanted - especially going into the international break," Coleman toldevertontv. "We wanted to go away on a high so we can come back on a high.
"The win was very important. There was a good buzz in the changing rooms and everyone will head away with their countries in high spirits - it wouldn't be nice going away with a defeat so it's exactly what we wanted."
Coleman netted Everton's opener against the Cottagers for his sixth goal of the season after beating Mark Schwarzer with a powerful header from Leon Osman's cross on 35 minutes.
And with half of his tally coming from headers, Coleman revealed he's been putting in extra effort in training to increase that number before the term ends.
"Steve Round has helped me a lot since I've moved position," he continued. "Whether it be heading it into goal or heading it back across goal for someone to tap it in, it has been worked on.
"I've got a few chances at the back post in the last couple of games and the opposition goalkeeper had saved a few, so I just watched it onto my head and tried to put it back across goal and thankfully it went in.
"The deliveries coming in from the left hand side are great whether it be from Osman or Baines. I have had a few chances and maybe I should have headed a few more goals, but I'm glad I got one today."
Irish international Séamus Coleman is looking forward to the prospect of going up against Chelsea left back Ashley Cole on Saturday, and hopes to come out on top as Everton look to secure their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Cole is widely regarded as one of the best left backs in the game, and the young Irishman believes these are the kind of challenges you should be enjoying.
Coleman, who made his Ireland international debut against Wales last week, has already pitted his wits against the England man twice this season and can't wait for his next opportunity at Stamford Bridge.
"It's what you want as footballer, you want to play against the best players in the world," Coleman told evertontv.
"I've played against him a couple of times already this season, it's always good to play against him and I go into the game on Saturday hoping to get the upper hand.
"He has a lot of experience, he's played at the top for a long time, he's very fit and he knows the game well, it's very hard to get the ball past him," he added.
"He attacks quite a lot, so me being a right back anyway I like to go back and defend and hopefully if I come up against him I can do well."
Everton go into the Chelsea clash on the back of a disappointing defeat to Bolton on Sunday, but the Donegal born Irish international has urged his teammates to move on from that display.
The Blues have already played out two 1-1 draws with Premier League champions Chelsea this term and Coleman is confident Everton can go one better and set-up a tie with Reading in the last 16.
"We want to forget about Sunday as soon as possible, it wasn't a good enough performance and we all know that," said Coleman.
"Obviously it's a massive game on Saturday in the FA Cup and we go down there hungry to advance in the competition.
"It didn't happen for us, we can't put our finger on why but we want to put it behind us now and get ourselves right again," admitted the Irishman.
"We drew with them, and the game at Goodison in the Cup we probably could have beaten them, so we know they are not unbeatable and we're confident of getting a result.
"We had enough chances to finish it off at Goodison but their 'keeper made a lot of good saves which helped - but we're definitely going there wanting to win."
Séamus Coleman admits tasting international football with Ireland has left him wanting more.
Coleman's friends and family from Killybegs and other parts of Donegal were inside the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night to see him make his international debut against Wales in the first game of the Carling Nations Cup which ended in a comfortable 3-0 win for Ireland. After playing for almost an hour, Coleman is hoping Giovanni Trapattoni saw enough to keep faith in him for the crunch Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia next month in Dublin.
"Playing for your country is what every professional wants to do and I am no different," said the former Sligo Rovers player. "The more caps the merrier for me.
"He (Trapattoni) was delighted with the good convincing win and he congratulated me on my debut, which was all I wanted.
"To be honest I just wanted to play whether it be right back or right wing. I am used to right wing because of my time at Everton and I really enjoyed it. I am just going to go back to Everton and work hard there and hopefully the club form will be rewarded with more caps at international level.
"The game was similar to Premier League football," added Coleman. "We knew all about their players as well so that probably helped on my debut. There were a bit of nerves beforehand but I wasn't overly nervous. A small amount of nerves is always good to have so I was fine and I really enjoyed it. All my family and friends were down from Donegal so they went home happy."
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named his starting team for the Carling Nations Cup opening game against Wales tomorrow evening.
Trapattonni has confirmed ten of his line-up and has yet to decide between Darron Gibson and Paul Green for the central midfield role alongside Glenn Whelan. There is no starting birth for Stoke's Marc Wilson, however it's clear that he is certainly as capable and versatile in the central midfield position, as any of the three named above.
Stoke City striker Jonathan Walters will make his first senior international start as Kevin Doyle's partner in attack having been introduced as a substitute in the last game against Norway. Shane Long is likely to play some part in the Irish front line during the game and will hope to carry his exceptional recent scoring record for Reading into the Carling Cup game.
As he indicated yesterday, Trapattoni has afforded debut caps to Ciarán Clark and Séamus Coleman.
Ireland:
Shay Given (Manchester City); John O'Shea (Manchester United), Sean St Ledger (Preston NE), Richard Dunne (Aston Villa), Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa); Seamus Coleman (Everton), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Paul Green (Derby County) or Darron Gibson (Manchester United); Jonathan Walters (Stoke City), Kevin Doyle (Wolves).
Ciarán Clark and Séamus Coleman will make their Ireland international debuts in tomorrow night’s Carling Nations Cup opener against Wales, However Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has lost Robbie Keane, James McCarthy, Keith Treacy, Liam Lawrence and Leon Best to injury.
Despite his hope that the Killybegs born player might develop into an attacking right back over the coming years, Coleman, the Italian said, will start on the right side of midfield for the Wales game while Clark will be used at left back.
The pair, he said, will get opportunities, “not just in this game but also in the qualifiers”, a comment that seemed to suggest Clark, in particular, has a chance of very quickly making the place his own if he can impress on this occasion.
Speaking about his inclusion in his first Ireland senior squad, Clark said “ I’ve just got to play as well as I can and hopefully impress. I’ve got to try and stay in the squad. There are a number of players who aren’t here who might be here for the next meet-up so there are a lot of people to choose from. I’ve got to keep training and playing hard and just see what might happen over the next couple of years.”
Clark, said he was excited by the prospect of making his senior debut.
“From a young age we have been a big Irish family and that is always what I wanted to do,” he said. “It was a good experience being with England. Ireland never came in at the time and that was just the path that things took but this is where I really wanted to be. Now I’ve made my decision and I would be honoured to be involved and hopefully I will be.”
Trapattoni seemed a little taken aback that James McCarthy will again be unavailable to him after the Wigan midfielder was withdrawn by his club whose medical staff, the Italian said, felt it be better if the player got the opportunity to rest having taken “a couple of knocks” in Saturday’s defeat of Blackburn, only his second game after returning from a long-term injury.
“It is a pity,” said Trapattoni because it would have been a good opportunity for him. I like him and could have looked at him in two different positions, behind the strikers and in midfield but it is not a problem, there will be other opportunities.”
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed his 22-man squad for the Carling Nations Cup opener against Wales at the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday, February 8.
James McCarthy has been added to the senior squad and alongside the inclusion of Wilson, Coleman and Clarke makes for a very exciting blend of young Premiership talent and more experienced campaigners like Keane, Duff, Dunne and Given.
Ireland Squad:
Given (Manchester City)
Westwood (Coventry City)
O'Shea (Manchester United)
Clark (Aston Villa)
Coleman (Everton)
Dunne (Aston Villa)
St Ledger (Preston North End)
Kelly (Fulham)
O'Dea (Celtic)
Wilson (Stoke City)
Gibson (Manchester United)
Whelan (Stoke City)
Paul Green (Derby County)
Lawrence (Portsmouth)
McCarthy (Wigan Athletic)
Treacy (Preston North End)
Duff (Fulham)
Keane (West Ham United)
Walters (Stoke City)
Doyle (Wolves)
Long (Reading)
Best (Newcastle United).
Ireland international Séamus Coleman is hoping to celebrate his new improved contract with a win against West Ham this weekend.
The young Donegal born midfielder says he is keen to keep impressing after signing a four-and-a-half year deal.
Coleman extended his stay on Merseyside until at least 2015; the latest in a series good news stories since he arrived from Sligo Rovers in January 2009.
But the 22-year-old Killybegs right winger has been sensational this season, and he believes the new contract is the reward for his hard work.
"I'm over the moon to sign the contract, my aim was to keep impressing after every contract and this new one proves that I've been doing well," Coleman told evertontv.
"I just want to keep going now. When I came over first it was a two-year contract and I treated it as a trial," he added.
"I got a new one whilst I was at Blackpool, and to get another one so quickly was a surprise because that's three in a short space of time."
Coleman has endeared himself to the Blues fans with his all-action displays since breaking into the first team.
And he says he will continue to put in the maximum amount of effort even when he's not at his marauding best on the Everton right flank.
"When I go out on the pitch I get my head down and I have a go," said Coleman.
"Even if it's not going well for me on the ball, I'll keep running around and giving it 100 per cent and the fans appreciate that."
Coleman scored against Saturday's opponents West Ham when the sides met at Upton Park in December.
Everton were far from their best that day in East London, and Coleman knows the Blues must perform well to record a second successive home win despite the Hammers being stuck at the base of the Premiership table.
"The Premier League this season is so tight and everyone is beating everyone apart from United at the top," continued Coleman.
"You can't take anything for granted and West Ham aren't going so well and they are going to be fighting for it but we need the points at Goodison."
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is likely to give some of his younger players an international start due to the number of senior players who have reported injured ahead of Wednesday's friendly game with Norway in Dublin.
The Irish boss has lost six of the players he initially named for the game and has further doubts over Sean St Ledger, Paul Green and striker Kevin Doyle, who were due to be assessed today.
Captain Robbie Keane is out with an ankle injury, Kevin Kilbane has withdrawn with a back problem and Richard Dunne, Paul McShane and Caleb Folan have varying knee injuries.
In addition, Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson has not reported for the squad due to a family illness.
Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark was named in a revised squad on Friday afternoon, but damaged a calf in the warm-up before Saturday's Premier League draw with Man United and has withdrawn.
As a result, Trapattoni has signalled his intention to have a look at young Everton defender Seamus Coleman, Greg Cunningham, who is currently on loan at Leicester from Manchester City, and Stoke striker Jon Walters. Celtic's Darron O'Dea and Stoke's Marc Wilson are also likely to feature during the game.
Trapattoni, who is awaiting Aiden McGeady's arrival from club duty with Spartak Moscow later today, said: "We are missing many injured players, but it is important in this friendly game to look at other young players.
"The likes of Coleman, Cunningham and Walters, it is very important for them and for us.
"The players, we know, but with us, they can increase in confidence and personality.
"It will be important in the future that these players are available to us."
St Ledger and Green will have scans on knee injuries today, while Doyle will have further examinations on the broken bone in his hand.
Wednesday's game is the first since last month's Euro 2012 double-header, which saw Ireland lose at home to Russia and draw in Slovakia.
However, Trapattoni insists there will be plenty at stake.
He said: "I have said many times in the past, there is no such thing as a friendly game for the national team.
"When players play for their country, when they have that shirt on, they have pride, they must be proud because they are playing for their country."
Owen Coyle knows all about the threat that Ireland international Séamus Coleman is likely to pose to his Bolton team tonight. Coyle spotted the Irish winger’s potential when he tried to sign him from Sligo Rovers during his time in charge at Burnley.
Killybegs born Coleman maintained his stellar rise in the game last weekend by scoring Everton’s equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Blackburn, and he continues to earn plaudits for his attacking style and vigour.
“I had Seamus in at Burnley,” said Bolton boss Coyle. “He came in and played a trial game for us and he got injured after 10 minutes and he was unfortunate.
“He caught his knee and was out for four to six weeks but as soon as he was back fit, everybody was talking about this young player. If he’d played the full game and not picked up the injury we probably would have signed him.
“But he went back to Sligo and got himself fit again and by that time there were bigger clubs than ourselves at Burnley looking at him, with Everton being one of them and he moved there.”
Coyle added: “He went about it with such vigour and enthusiasm, I liked him straight away before he’d even played, and you see how he’s evolved at Everton.
“He had a great loan spell at Blackpool and now he’s pushed himself into the Everton first team. David Moyes has been very good with him and very clever with him because he gave him a little sample of the European stuff last year and knew that the Championship with Blackpool would serve him well. He’s been proved right because he’s been terrific.
“He’s getting better and better. He’s a full back but he can play further forward and he’s just an outstanding young player with a real sense of purpose, a real sense of drive and I love that type of player.”
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has revealed he will blood some of the new Irish talent currently making waves for their club teams in the friendly against Norway at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday week.
Trap included the uncapped trio of Séamus Coleman, Marc Wilson and Jonathan Walters in his 27-man preliminary squad for the workout against a side currently leading their Euro 2012 qualifying group ahead of Portugal and Denmark.
With one eye firmly fixed on the European qualifying game against Macedonia in March, Trapattoni admitted the team starting in eleven days' time will be strong but fringe players will get some game time over the ninety minutes.
"This game will be an opportunity for two or three young players like Keith Treacy, Séamus Coleman, Greg Cunningham and also Mark Wilson to face a strong team.
"There needs to be balance in our team between the new, young and senior. We can make six substations plus the goalkeeper during the game.
"A positive result will be good for morale because we felt aggrieved about drawing with Slovakia in the last game.
"We played well and missed a penalty. A win would have kept us top of table with Russia but that is gone and we have to think about the future. That starts with the friendly against Norway.
"They (Norway) haven't many creative players but they are strong, physical and tactical. I have watched them play against Portugal, France and Iceland and they are a strong team.
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has sang the praises of Seamus Coleman for his impressive progress at Everton this season. Ireland international Coleman spent three months on loan at Blackpool last season and played in the play-off final which saw Blackpool promoted to the Premier league.
In his column for the Independent on Sunday, Holloway wrote: "Seamus Coleman is a wonderful young fella who will be a top-quality attacking right-back in the Premier League. He thanked me earlier in the week for helping him during his loan spell at Blackpool last season. But its me who should be thanking him because I don't think he will ever fully realise how much he helped us.
"I had a situation where one of my players got injured and I needed some cover. I chose Seamus at Everton and we did a loan deal. It was one of the best things I did because he came in and added a new impetus and helped us go all the way to Wembley in the play-offs and win promotion.
"He helped us achieve something we probably didn't dream of. I love the way he plays. He runs with the ball and has a great touch. I tried to get him back on loan this season but David Moyes said no because Seamus would get in his first team. Typical Moyesey, he is a man of his word and put Seamus in. I saw him create Tim Cahill's goal in the Merseyside derby last week and I'm pleased for the lad."
Coleman is likely to feature in Giovanni Tapattoni's Ireland team in a friendly against Norway in Dublin next month.
Everton defender Seamus Coleman has been called into the Ireland squad ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Russia and Slovakia.
The Donegal born full back has been hugely impressive in little more than 180 minutes of first team action this season and despite the Toffees' poor start to the campaign, he comes into Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for the first time as a result of a calf injury to Stephen Kelly.
Keith Treacy and CSKA Sofia striker Cillian Sheridan are both on standby for the squad having initially been named in a provisional 26-man squad last month.
Midfielder Keith Andrews is due to make his first start of the season for Blackburn Rovers against Stoke tomorrow. Andrews came on as a sub last weekend and played 70 minutes for the reserves in midweek.
Richard Dunne is available for Aston Villa after missing the last two matches with a back injury.
Ireland face Russia at Lansdowne Road next Friday before travelling to Zilina to face Slovakia on October 12th. They currently top the group on six points, ahead of Slovakia on goal difference.
Aiden McGeady will have precious little inside information to impart to his teammates ahead of the Russia game after only one of the Spartak Moscow winger’s teammates was included in Dick Advocaat’s squad and defender Sergei Parshivlyuk is unlikely to start in Dublin.
McGeady will, however, be well aware of the dangers posed by Aleksandr Kerzhakov. The Zenit St. Petersburg striker was cast into the international wilderness following Russia’s World Cup play-off defeat to Slovenia last November. But two hat-tricks in his last three club matches led to a dramatic recall from the Dutch coach as he desperately seeks to rescue the Russians’ qualifying campaign.
Advocaat’s side come into the match under severe pressure following their defeat in Moscow to Slovakia. The reaction to that shock has been predictably scathing and despite claiming he would not bow to the “frenzy in the press or speculations of the fans”, Advocaat has done exactly that.
Dmitri Torbinski and Dmitri Sychev – two of the players singled out for criticism in the Moscow sports dailies – have been cut adrift while Denis Kolodin and Alan Kasaev are also dropped. In come Igor Denisov, fit again after a foot injury, and the uncapped pair of Parshivlyuk and Pavel Mamaev of CSKA Moscow.
Tottenham’s Roman Pavlyuchenko, yet to start a competitive game under Advocaat, will be vying with Kerzhakov and Stuttgart’s Pavel Pogrebnyak for the lone striker role, while Andrey Arshavin and Alan Dzagoev should provide extra firepower from the flanks.
Ireland squad :
Goalkeepers: Shay Given, Keiren Westwood, Joe Murphy
Defenders: John O’Shea, Seamus Coleman, Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Greg Cunningham, Kevin Foley, Paul McShane, Kevin Kilbane
Midfielders : Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan, Darron Gibson, Paul Green, Liam Lawrence, Aiden McGeady, Andy Keogh, Damien Duff, Keith Fahey
Forwards : Robbie Keane, Kevin Doyle, Shane Long.
Jimmy Armfield has tipped Everton's Seamus Coleman for a bright future in the game.
Killybegs born Coleman has pushed himself into regular first team contention at Goodison Park, scoring his first goal for the Club in the Carling Cup tie at Brentford last week and earning a first Premier League start at Fulham on Saturday.
Armfield, is often credited with being the first truly attacking full-back in English football and as paving the way for players like Coleman.
The Ireland U21 international spent the latter part of last season on loan at Blackpool, a club where Armfield holds hero status having spent his entire career at Bloomfield Road – a ground where a stand is now named after him.
And the former England man says he was extremely impressed with the youngster, particularly his attitude and temperament.
“Seamus did really well for Blackpool and I think going there was really good for him,” Armfield told evertonfc.com.
“He was a real favourite at the club, the fans loved him and I think they would have signed him had they had the chance but obviously David Moyes wouldn’t want to lose a talented lad like that.
“He is very adventurous, a very progressive player and I thought when he came on against Manchester United the other week the game changed a bit.
“He has a good engine and also a very good temperament. He had a good trip at Blackpool, he went to Wembley and was part of winning promotion and it was all good experience for him.”
Armfield feels the role of the full of the full-back has changed considerably in the modern game and that Coleman’s attacking intent is emblematic of a shift in emphasis.
In fact such is Coleman’s aptitude for the attacking side of the game, the Irishman was handed a start on the right of midfield at Craven Cottage.
“I think first job for a full-back is to defend but if you can attack and impose yourself going forward then that is a real asset,” Armfield continued. “I always thought that was a big part of the job. People say I was the first attacking full-back and I always wanted to impose myself on the opposition.
“I think the job of the full-back has changed and that full-backs are generally more attacking now. Players go on, they link-up down the flank and they go on again and break into the box – Ashley Cole is probably the best at it and look how important he is to Chelsea.
“Seamus has the talent and seems physically and mentally right which is very positive, but he is no age and his time will come.”
Seamus Coleman continued his impressive progress for Everton this season after playing the last half hour in the Toffees superb comeback aginst Man United this afternoon, and David Moyes is keen to push the Donegal born defender all the way to a regular starting position in the team.
“Seamus is doing well. He is pushing all the time to get into the team. He is on the verges of it. We brought him on against Villa and brought him on further forward, but Tony Hibbert has started the season well.
“Seamus will be in the squad, he has been in and around every game. We’d like to help him progress but there is competition there with Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville.
“The one thing Seamus has got on his side is he is young as a footballer, not like 17 years old, but he’s come from Sligo Rovers and is not completely up to the full speed of the Premier League and what’s expected. But he’s progressing and getting close. He was a great 60 grand buy.”
Moyes adds: “He’s a right-back but came on further up against Villa because he has abilities to get forward. We are short of a right-sided midfielder at the moment.
“Jack Rodwell came off against Villa and he’d been on the right which is out of position for him, so we are looking for a solution there. Who knows? Seamus could be the one to give it a go there.
Everton defender Seamus Coleman says his new four-year contract is proof he is progressing at Goodison Park.
The Donegal born Ireland u21 international is currently on loan at Blackpool and joined Everton from Sligo in 2008.
"I was playing to get a new contract because it shows that you've done alright, so I'm delighted," Coleman said today.
"When I came here I had a long enough contract but you always want to get another one to show that you've done something to earn it."
The Ireland Under-21 international's loan at Blackpool ends on Monday, the day after their Wembley play-off final against Cardiff.
But Coleman said he would think about going out on loan again.
"I'd be open to it and I'm going to do whatever David Moyes tells me to do," said Coleman. "He's the boss and whatever he thinks is right for me I'll do.
"He hasn't got a bad record with young players so far. So whatever he thinks best, I will agree with."
