Five things you should know about Everton’s Irish right-back Seamus Coleman

Here are five things you should know about Everton's sensational right-back Seamus Coleman.

By Conor Hogan

The 22-year-old Donegal man was in exceptional form for Everton this weekend, earning the Man of the Match award in the Merseyside derby. His runs down the right wing and deft dribbling terrorised the Liverpool defence – he set up Tim Cahill’s opening goal when he went past three players and pulled the ball back into the area.

Almost everybody has been impressed by Coleman this season, the man who famously out-Baled Gareth Bale in a Premier League match against Tottenham in 2009/2010. For some reason, however, Giovanni Trapattoni remains uninterested, choosing to pick the more defensive minded full-backs John O’Shea and Kevin Kilbane instead.

1. He used to play for Sligo Rovers

Coleman played against Sligo Rovers in a friendly for Donegal side St. Catherine’s and impressed so much that he was immediately snapped up. He went on to play 55 times in the league for Rovers, who finished an impressive 5th, 6th and 4th in his seasons with them.

2. He only cost Everton £60,000

Coleman was recommended to David Moyes by his friend Willie McStay, a former Sligo Rovers manager. Everton beat off interest from Celtic, Birmingham and Ipswich to capture the right-back.

The £60,000 fee seems very cheap at the price in retrospect, considering his current valuation is close to 100 times that.

3. A blister threatened to end his career

Before even playing a game for the Toffees, he picked up a blister which unfortunately got infected. “It was just a blister which got infected and the infection nearly went to the bone," Coleman said.

“According to the physios, it could have been disastrous. They didn’t tell me at the time, they told me after it was all all right, but it was quite serious.

“They told me if I was maybe playing part-time football or on holiday when it happened, it could have been a lot worse. But they got to it in time.”

The infection led to a big hole in Coleman’s foot.

4. His Everton debut didn't end well

Coleman’s first appearance in an Everton shirt couldn’t have ended much worse. The Irishman had an absolute nightmare as Portuguese side Benfica hammered the Toffees 5-0.

His home debut was much better, however, as he created both goals in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham. He also created a goal in his FA Cup debut against Carlisle, and played a major part in Blackpool’s promotion when on loan to Ian Holloway’s side. At the end of the season he was named FAI Under 21 Player of the Year Award.

5. He shares a birthday with another prodigious talent

Coleman was born on 11 October 1988, the exact same day as Galway’s Joe Canning, one of the most naturally talented hurlers in the country. In his short career, Canning has already picked up two All-Stars.