David Moyes was speaking following Everton's 2-0 win over Southampton
David Moyes
David Moyes was left with mixed emotions over Seamus Coleman’s involvement in Goodison Park’s era-ending game. While he was pleased to give the club captain the opportunity to lead out the side - for the first time since the return of the manager who signed him - he was left disappointed by his early withdrawal through injury.
Coleman received one of the loudest roars of the day when it was announced he would begin the game, his first spot in the starting line-up since the Boxing Day draw at Manchester City under former manager Sean Dyche. He started by delivering echoes from earlier in his career, bursting down the right wing to win an early corner.
But minutes later he signalled to the dugout that he could no longer continue and was replaced by Ashley Young just before the 20 minute mark.
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After the match, Moyes said: “I'm really pleased [he was captain] but really disappointed because he has picked up a thigh strain early in the game which actually affected us in other ways as the substitutions we made got changed and made us weak in the second half as we couldn't take some players off who were fatigued.”
This is not expected to be Coleman’s farewell after Moyes confirmed the plans were to extend his stay with the club beyond this summer. The 36-year-old is due to be out of contract but he is set to stay on as a player.