Seamus Coleman checks-in despite missing Merseyside derby
Coleman’s prospects of recovering from his hamstring injury appeared to disintegrate yesterday when he failed to appear in the Toffees’ squad for the Merseyside derby, although the Donegal native will be assessed today by the FAI’s medical staff.
“Will Seamus be fit for the qualifiers? I doubt it. I wouldn’t be able to answer,” Martinez said after Coleman missed the third Everton game in a row.
“The truth is Seamus was desperate to play today and desperate to play for Ireland. But medically he wasn’t ready for the game against Liverpool so I don’t know how long it is going to take.
“I doubt that in two or three days he is going to be fine. I think it’s going to be a bit longer than that.
“We’re going to work with Ireland. We have a very close relationship with them and hopefully we are going to get Seamus on the pitch as quick as we can.
“John Stones, Muhamed Besic, Aiden McGeady and Seamus are four players who are going away on international duty and are carrying knocks and injuries and need to make sure they are fully fit.”
Coleman was included by Martin O’Neill over the weekend amongst his reduced 27-man squad, with Darron Gibson being subsequently added to the panel last night.
Uncapped pair Eunan O’Kane and Alan Judge make the cut on this occasion but Stephen Quinn (knee), Harry Arter (groin) and Ciaran Clark (quad) are unavailable.
The absence of Clark, who displaced Wilson at centre-back for last month’s double-header of wins against Gibraltar and Georgia, leaves O’Neill short of cover as the Stoke City defender is himself sidelined due to a calf muscle tear.
“This injury will keep me out of at least the Germany game,” admitted Wilson.
“I’m bitterly disappointed. Stoke’s physio spoke to Ireland doctor Alan Byrne on Friday and we think it is for the best that I stay over here for treatment and try get myself fit for the Poland game on Sunday.
“It’s a massive week for us and hopefully I can be available for the game in Warsaw.” Ahead of the world champions’ visit, Germany defender Mats Hummels says he thinks Poland deserve to join them in next summer’s finals in France as automatic qualifiers from Group D.
Hummels insists Germany, despite needing just a point to secure qualification, will aim to beat Ireland and, in doing so, smooth the path for his former Borussia Dortmund Robert Lewandowski to feature at the showpiece.
“Poland have been the best team we’ve played in this campaign and I think Robert deserves to bring them to the finals,” says Hummels.
Meanwhile, Jack Grealish’s father has revealed that Irish internationals Shay Given and Ciaran Clark tried to dissuade the Aston Villa winger from jumping ship to England.
“When Shay was at Villa, he spoke to Jack about the future with Ireland, as did Ciaran Clark,” Kevin Grealish told Radio Kerry.
“Villa’s England players like Fabian Delph put a word in too but, ultimately, Jack made his own decision.”
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