Defoe fends off Father Time with his own winning recipe
Seamuscolemanisalready 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 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 as Coleman lay in agony on the pitch in the aftermath of the incident, 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 for his family.but as Seamus mentioned to me the other day, 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.”
The injury cast a pall over the game, and tonight’s friendly against Iceland, with O’neill admitting Coleman’s absence from the camp has been felt keenly. O’neill said: “Even the result on Friday evening was secondary.”