Martin O'Neill: Seamus Coleman 'a man possessed' in the green shirt

“Sometimes I think that the way you perform on the field might mirror the way you approach life and sometimes it doesn't."

As Seamus Coleman prepares to don the blue of Everton for tonight’s Merseyside derby, Martin O’Neill has described the Irish internationmal as someone who is “quiet by nature” but who turns into “a man possessed” when he pulls on the green shirt, writes Liam Mackey.

In a look-back on Ireland’s 2016 which will be screened at 8.30 tonight on eir Sport 1 – and repeated over the festive season – the Ireland manager reflects on the personal qualities which make Coleman an increasingly influential figure as captain.