Seamus Coleman: ‘To play 40 games for Ireland is a great honour’

“If you are selected tomorrow night...” a journalist tactfully began his question to Seamus Coleman yesterday, only for Martin O’Neill to interrupt with immediate confirmation that the Everton man would indeed be in his team for tonight’s Georgia game.

The manager rarely reveals any selection decisions ahead of games but, of course, it was hardly a bombshell to learn that his new captain would be leading out the Irish team tonight for what will his 40th appearance for his country.

“To play 40 games for Ireland is a great honour,” said Coleman.

“But you always want to do better, you never think you are the finished article and you just want to keep improving, keep learning and try and get to this World Cup.”

Taking over as skipper from Robbie Keane has not fundamentally altered his approach, he said.

“I try to do everything the same and just not change. I’m not going to suddenly start shouting and roaring at people. I’ll just be the same. Train well, train professionally and do things properly,” he said.

And, as ever, he was quick to stress the primacy of the collective over the individual when it comes to playing for his country, offering by way of example the support of his fellow players when, with the full-back having just returned from an injury lay-off, fatigue and a heavy pitch began to take their toll in the 2-2 draw with Serbia in Belgrade.

“For your country, you’re desperate to play,” he said. “There is no doubt about it, towards the end of the game, especially the way the pitch was digging up, it was quite hard to play the way we wanted to and the legs were getting heavy. So it was difficult but I got the lads around me. You know, when you are getting tired and you see Jonny Walters running 60 yards back to help you out, that’s what we’re all about.

“When lads are tired, we try and dig in and help each other out, and the lads got me through that game in the end.”