He is still two months away from getting back onto the pitch through injury.
But never-say-die Killybegs star Séamus Coleman is fully behind his Ireland teammates as they face France and the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 qualifiers next month.
The Donegal man admits he will have to watch from the sidelines and admits the team face a “touch test.”
Coleman has been out of action since last April when he suffered a season-ending injury against Leicester City.
He hasn’t featured for his club Everton either after they started their Premier campaign.
“I am better than I thought I would be coming off the pitch that night, I didn’t think the best that night,” Coleman said today of that injury against Leicester when he was stretchered off, the Ireland captain speaking at the launch of the 2023 SPAR Better Choices Campaign.
“It was a significant injury but I am recovering well, hitting all the targets so far, being back on the grass over the last few weeks, not with the team but with the physios, back with the ball and that.
“Slowly but surely it’s starting to feel better. Without putting a target on it because that’s not what they are doing as such, it’s about reaching points and scores in the gym before you can move on.
“At the minute I am doing all that, in six/eight weeks maybe I will be back at it fully and feeling good.”
He says he had an initial hope when the injury happened that he could be fit for the September qualifiers but reality hit home.
“Once we did stay up it was always a push for September, I was devastated as they are two massive games I’d love to be involved in. But it came too soon,” he said.
“It’s tough, really tough, the Greece result was really disappointing, the game against France at home was great and I thought we did well at times but ultimately we didn’t win the game.
“It’s a big ask, Holland at home can be a real opportunity for us to get something, they are a top nation, we know that, top class players but in front of our own fans it’s a real opportunity, the France game will be tough without a doubt but the lads have to enjoy that occasion, enjoy being part of that game, ultimately that’s what you want, to be playing in that game but ultimately the France game will be tough,” he added.
“Much and all as Ireland is everything is to me, when you are so deep in that relegation, when you are with Ireland your mind’s with Ireland, when you’re with Everton it’s with Everton as you are so focused on them last five game as I was injured, my focus at that time was on ‘Everton need to stay up and I can’t really help them in the last few games’.”
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