The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Coleman looks to the future
Seamus Coleman is already looking to the future as he sets out on the long road to recovery from his horrific double leg fracture.
The Republic of Ireland skipper remains in hospital in Dublin after undergoing surgery on Saturday morning to pin the broken tibia and fibula in his right leg.
The injury came as a result of a challenge by Wales wing-back Neil Taylor during Friday night’s 0-0 World Cup qualifying draw at the Aviva Stadium.
Manager Martin O’Neill visited Coleman on Sunday and, while he revealed the 28-year-old is understandably down as he comes to terms with what will be a lengthy lay-off, he is taking a pragmatic approach to his recovery.
Asked about his own emotions, O’Neill said: “The first reaction is that you know you have lost a great player for a start. You know the sort of pain that he’s going to be going through, obviously the immediate pain and then his recovery.
“It’s a major blow, not only for the player, but obviously for his family, people who were at the game watching that.
“But as Seamus mentioned to me the other day, he just said that it has happened now, he can’t do anything about it and it’s what he does now in the next few months that is very, very important.
“I think he’s just beginning to come to terms with it. I saw him yesterday and he’s still pretty down about it.”