Sweet days for Toffees star Coleman as he lives Ireland dream

SEAMUS COLEMAN had one of those ‘pinch me’ moments just hours after joining up with the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the first time on Monday.

Eight years ago, he was 13 years of age and watching Robbie Keane at the World Cup. Now here he was, training alongside the Irish captain ahead of two crucial European Championship qualifiers against Russia and Slovakia.

“It is a bit strange,” he admitted.

“I don’t know if it’s sunk in yet.”

No wonder. Life is moving fast for the Killybegs man.

He was still at Sligo Rovers two years ago before David Moyes parted with £60,000 (€68,000) – a “steal” according to the Scot – to bring him to Everton for whom he made his debut in Benfica’s Stadium of Light two summers ago.

Heady stuff. Another landmark came last December when he set up both his side’s goals in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham. It was his home debut and a memorable afternoon was rounded off when he swapped shirts with Keane at the final whistle.

A right-back by trade, his elevation into the senior national squad for the first time this week owes to a combination of Stephen Kelly’s absence through injury and his own recent performances for the Goodison Park outfit on the right of midfield.

A problem position for the Merseysiders, Moyes first alighted on the young Irishman as a stop-gap solution late last month and his two performances against Fulham and Birmingham have since validated the manager’s punt.

A hunch it may have been but a gamble it wasn’t. Coleman’s trademark is his attacking style up and down the touchline and it was that offensive zeal that persuaded Ian Holloway to take him on loan at Blackpool in the second half of last season.

Everton assistant Steve Round has since revealed Coleman’s nickname is ‘Ramos’ after the buccaneering Real Madrid defender and Holloway encouraged the young Irishman to continue in that fashion during his stint with the Tangerines.

“It really helped me a lot,” he said of his nine appearances at Bloomfield Road. “I was getting to the stage at Everton where I was just on the bench every week. I was just itching to get out and play a bit of football because I’d got a bit of a taste of it.

“It definitely helped me a lot to play every week and they were important games as well. We were always pushing to get into the play-offs so it was definitely a great experience.”

Coleman earned a Championship play-off winner’s medal for his efforts. Blackpool’s style suited his instincts but his current station further up the field is, everyone agrees, a temporary one and he knows he will have to cultivate his defensive skills as time goes by.

“Yeah, definitely. I know that myself. Sometimes, I’m my own worst critic. I need to know that I can’t always be bombing up the wing as someone can sneak in and get a goal. It’s the same with every player. You need to work on every part of your game.”

Maybe, but he has already done enough to catch Giovanni Trapattoni’s eye even if the first he knew about that was when he was on the way to Birmingham last Friday for Everton’s game the next day and the FAI informed him of the call-up.

He intends to make the most of it.

“I think I can get a lot out of it. Training with Ireland is going to help your confidence and it’s going to make me a bit more confident going back to Everton.

“It shows that you’re doing well if you’re called up for your country.”