David Moyes spoke about club captain Seamus Coleman's future in his pre-match press conference to preview Everton's game with Southampton
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David Moyes has confirmed that club captain Seamus Coleman will not be leaving Everton this summer. The player, who turns 37 in October, is one of 14 players at the club who are either out of contract or coming to the end of their loan at the end of this season, but the ECHO undestands the plan, as it stands, is for that to be on a playing contract.
Despite having made a club record 368 Premier League appearances for the Blues, Coleman has turned out just five times in all competitions this term with his stoppage time cameo off the bench in the 3-1 win at Fulham last Saturday the first time he had been on the pitch since the 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Boxing Day.
Asked if the Killybegs-born player’s long service at the club might influence any decision to allow Coleman to lead Everton out for what will be the men’s first team’s final fixture at Goodison Park against Southampton on Sunday, Moyes said: “It does come into my thinking, but what I will say is that Sunday is a game in which we’re going to do everything we can, to prepare the best and play the best we can, but Seamus will stay next season, without doubt. He will be part of the group.
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“I need him here, his leadership, his message he has among the players and in the dressing room is so strong, it will be wrong of me to let him go. One way or another, Seamus will be here certainly next season.”
Coleman is the only remaining player at Everton from Moyes’ first spell at Goodison Park having been signed from Sligo Rovers in January 2009 and the Scot said: “I overpaid, about sixty grand I think, at the time! It was great money spent.
“Seamus is actually a little bit more than a player here. He’s going into a position where he’s helped the club through some of the most difficult periods, but he’s never been to another club.
“We put him out on loan to Blackpool when he first came in and apart from that he’s been here and played the games.”
Asked if he thought that Coleman was a modern day legend, Moyes said: “I think so. Legends are normally the ones who win FA Cups and are involved in League titles and stuff like that, but I think there are other reasons with Seamus, more importantly his professionalism, and as a human being.
“In some ways he’s carried Everton a little bit through the difficult period and I know he’s certainly done it in the dressing room.”
Meanwhile, Moyes confirmed Coleman’s fellow Republic of Ireland international Jake O’Brien, who has spent most of the second half of the season in his right-back position before James Tarkowski’s injury, is fit again after missing the trip to Craven Cottage last Saturday with a knee injury.
The Blues boss said: “Jake is fit and available.”