Everton's Séamus Coleman (centre) gestures to the crowd after leaving the pitch after going down injured at Goodison Park. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
Everton's Séamus Coleman (centre) gestures to the crowd after leaving the pitch after going down injured at Goodison Park. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
Aidan Fitzmaurice
Today at 18:46
Everton boss David Moyes says he feels for Ireland captain Séamus Coleman after his farewell to Goodison Park – and potentially the end of his playing career with the club – ended early due to injury.
Coleman (36) has been restricted to just five appearances for the club this season due to injury but was handed a major boost when named to start for the final game at their old home, before moving to a new stadium next term.
But Coleman lasted just 18 minutes before he had to be replaced, and he will now be a doubt for Ireland’s two-game friendly series next month.
"I am really pleased [that he started] but also really disappointed for him because he has picked up a thigh strain early on in the game,” Moyes said after the 2-0 win over Southampton.
"That actually affected us in other ways because the substitutions that got made changed us a bit and made us a bit weak in the second half, that we couldn’t take off one or two players who were tiring.”
Moyes said before the game that Coleman would be at the club next season – the Donegal man is out of contract – but did not define if that would be as a player, as a player/coach, or in a coaching-only role.
Heimir Hallgrimsson last week named Coleman in his squad for the friendly games against Senegal and Luxembourg but admitted that there was a doubt over the ability of the Everton player, and Sammie Szmodics, to be fit in time.