Coleman relishing chance to impress Martinez

Seamus Coleman is relishing the next chapter of his career under recently appointed Everton manager Roberto Martinez.

His now former boss, David Moyes, who was such a huge influence on his career, will move on to pastures new at Manchester United and the Donegal man firmly believes the players coming under the Scot’s watch will benefit just as he did since his move across the water from Sligo Rovers in 2009.

“He’s done so well with Everton over the last 10 years,” the in-form defender said of Moyes. “Top eight every year with maybe not the budget everyone else has. He always manages to pick up good players. I can only say good things about him.

“I think Alex Ferguson had a big say in who the manager would be so he must see something good in him. He has that longevity too. He’s been at Everton for 10 years and that’s maybe something Alex Ferguson looked at someone who was at a club for so long.”

Coleman said he had spoken to James McCarthy and former Wigan player Conor Sammon about his new boss and received nothing but glowing reports. “Like David Moyes with me, Martinez was brilliant with James, so he obviously has positive things to say about him.

“It’s a new manager and a new chapter... David Moyes was brilliant with me but I’m looking forward to the new manager, starting all over again, trying to impress him in pre-season, trying to do all the things right to make sure you’re in his team.”

Moyes, said Coleman, had helped the defensive side of his game having initially given him his chance on the wing.

“I gained a lot of experience from that. I was injured at the start of the season and he saw it was the time to give me a go at right-back, I think it was the right time.

“I had a spell at Blackpool when I was playing at right back and I really enjoyed it but obviously that was the Championship and the Premier League is a big step up. I had a few games this season where I started off, I was just back in the role after a couple of years and you could tell that you’re out of it for a while but I’m back in the full swing of it and enjoying it.”

His performance against England, he admitted was an international career highlight so far and the general confidence levels around the squad have naturally risen after recent results.

“The table is wide open and it’s in our own hands. There are a couple of tough games coming up.”

And this game against Spain is one he has been looking forward to since it was announced, having endured the 4-0 defeat in Gdansk a year ago on Friday at a local pub back home called, appropriately enough, Fawlty’s.

“A lot of the lads played against them last summer and from the way they talk about that game and how good they were... At the end of your career you want to say you’ve played against the best in the world and Spain would be one of them.

“Watching it was a bit different. Some of my friends might have had a different view than me but because I know all the lads it was different. I was disappointed not to be out there but hopefully I can play in another tournament for my country.

“There’s be something wrong with you if you didn’t think you should have been there. Every player wants to be there. Obviously I felt I should have been there. But the manager had players he had to pick and obviously I wasn’t playing in the position I’m playing in now which I think went against me a bit. But it’s made me stronger and I’m looking forward to playing many more times for Ireland.”