Seamus Coleman: I feel like a footballer again

Seamus Coleman claims he feels like a footballer again after returning to action from serious injury.

The Republic of Ireland international played 58 minutes for Everton Under-23s in a game against Portsmouth at Goodison Park on Tuesday.

It was the 29-year-old defender’s first match action since suffering a double fracture of the leg while representing his country in March 2017.

Coleman told the club’s website, www.evertonfc.com: “To be able to walk out of the tunnel and see the stadium was great. I managed to get some minutes under my belt and that was fantastic. I treated it like a first-team game and gave it everything.

“I’ve been looking forward to that moment for the last few months – just being able to get the kit on, doing up the shin-pads, rolling my socks up and walking out there. It was great to be able to feel like a footballer again – it’s a fantastic feeling.”

Coleman, who suffered his injury in a heavy challenge from Wales’ Neil Taylor at the Aviva Stadium, showed his determination to get back into first-team contention by making a strong tackle in the early stages.

He said: “I knew tackles and things like that were never going to be a bother. That one was more for the few fans that were here (to show) that there are no psychological effects.”