Ireland captain Séamus Coleman inspired by durability of 39-year-old Ashley Young
HERO: Seamus Coleman with 15-year-old Australian Mackenzie Kinsella, who flew over to England for Saturday's postponed Merseyside derby. Pic: Tony McArdle, Everton FC.
Ireland and Everton captain Séamus Coleman says he’s using 39-year-old teammate Ashley Young as a template for longevity.
Injury problems have again plagued the Donegalman this year, initially hamstring trouble before a foot injury forced him off during Ireland’s opening Nations League fixture against England in September.
He’s not featured for the Toffees since, gradually returning to full fitness.
"I'm feeling good," Coleman, who turned 36 in October, told the Liverpool Echo.
"Obviously it's been a little stop-start and I've still been around it as much as I can, trying to play my part.
"Listen Ashley Young has not been doing too badly. He's been fantastic and is 39-years-of-age.
“Even at my age, I'm looking and learning from him - the example he is around the place, how he trains.
“At the minute that position is in good hands but thankfully I'm fit and well."
Coleman has been 15 years with the club since Everton banked a bargain £60,000 capture from Sligo Rovers, amassing 424 appearances, but he’s in the final year of his contract.
There’s no guarantee he’ll lead the Toffees into their new Bramley Moore Dock Stadium at the start of next season but should be fit when last Saturday’s Merseyside derby is rescheduled.
"It was disappointing," he said about the lunchtime postponement due to storm Daragh.
"We don't know how the result would have gone but, the little things like Liverpool dropping points midweek, us getting that win against Wolves that we needed, kind of changed the tone going into the game a little bit.
“We were all looking forward to it and we were ready for it - the last Goodison derby.
"Disappointing but it happens. We've got to move onto Arsenal this Saturday now. We've had to change the schedule a little bit - I'm sure we'll train a little bit harder today as well. It's part and parcel of it."
Meanwhile, Coleman ensured one disappointed fan - 15-year-old Australian Mackenzie Kinsella – was compensated for the weather-enforcement change.
The teen had spent £1,500 to fly over from Sydney but Everton decided to pull the match shortly after 8.30am on Saturday after advice from Liverpool City Council’s Ground Safety Advisory Group, with high winds of up to 70mph battering the region.
Kinsella’s grandmother Jo, who has been housing Mackenzie while he stays in the UK, said: “I was sick when I heard that. He’s come all this way, spent all this money and the match might be off.”
In the video message to Kinsella over the weekend, Coleman said: “I know how hard you saved up to travel from Australia for the Merseyside derby.
I know you were looking forward to the experience of being at the last Merseyside derby at Goodison.
“So, I’m sure you’ll be very disappointed today. We all are, all us Evertonians are, we were all looking forward to the game. But we’d love to see you down here at the training ground on Monday if that’s OK with you?
“Hopefully you can see a few of the lads, and hopefully it’ll make up for some of the disappointment and we can have a chat then.”
His visit to Finch Farm on Monday was memorable, receiving gloves from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and being invited into the squad huddle by manager Sean Dyche prior to training.
