SEAMUS COLEMAN somehow still had his club’s fortunes at the forefront of his mind even after sustaining a potentially career-ending injury.
The Republic of Ireland captain had to be stretchered off in the first half of The Toffees’ relegation six-pointer against Leicester City on Monday night.
GettyColeman encourages his teammates as he’s carried off the King Power Stadium surface[/caption]
Unfortunately, it looks to be a serious knee injury after he landed awkwardly having challenged Boubakary Soumare for the ball.
In a moment that sums up why he’s such a universally respected figure on both sides of the Irish Sea though, he immediately tried to gee up his teammates as he was carried off the pitch.
Coleman, who has just returned from a month out with a hamstring injury, was rushed to hospital with a protective leg-brace on, hobbling to a people-carrier on crutches.
He was taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary for scans.
The 34-year-old was widely praised for the incredibly selfless presence of mind he showcased at such a devastating moment for him personally.
One fan wrote: “If only we had 11 Seamus Colemans out there, what a warrior he has been and continues to be.”
While someone else added: “Our skipper! Everton legend no matter what happens.”
Finally, another commentator noted: “If you wanted to capture Seamus Coleman’s career – one of unbreakable selfless leadership through the hardest of battles – this would probably be it.
“He deserved trophies and glory, he didn’t get either, but has always chosen to fight like a champ with the hand he’s dealt.”
The rest of the match was thoroughly entertaining fare as the two strugglers played out an end-to-end 2-2 draw.
EVENTFUL MINUTE
Everton should have sealed the three points through Dominic Calvert-Lewin late on only for their injury-plagued hitman to produce a miss-of-the-season contender.
With the ball played across the face of goal, he had the whole net at his mercy from point-blank range.
But the 11-cap England man somehow connected with his heel and miscued it at Foxes goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, who appeared to be helplessly stranded at his near post.
The Danish stopper kicked the ball away to safety before Leicester, leading 2-1 having fallen behind, raced away on the counter-attack.
Jamie Vardy turned Michael Keane inside out before dinking the ball over Jordan Pickford but against the bar in a dramatic passage of play.
The result leaves the Merseyside outfit languishing in 19th position – but still only one point behind The Foxes and Leeds in 16th and 17th respectively.