King: Coleman can be one of great full-backs

After overseeing the Ireland squad in training in Malahide yesterday, Noel King hot-footed it out to Inchicore to see St Patrick’s Athletic crowned Airtricity League champions for 2013 thanks to their 2-0 win over Sligo Rovers.

As a man steeped in League of Ireland football, King has an additional reason to be pleased at the progress of an Ireland international who moved to Everton from the newly deposed champs — and made the transition seem almost effortless.

“I rate Seamus Coleman as a very good player,” says the interim manager. “He has improved continuously at a rate of knots. He has now gone up the right for while. But if you stop him going up the right then he comes in the left and causes trouble. And if he continues to develop coming in the left then he could become one of the great full-backs.”