Seamus Coleman suffers another injury setback during Everton return

Seamus Coleman’s return to club duty ended abruptly on Monday night as he was taken off just ten minutes in as Everton defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Coleman returned as captain for his first Premier League start of the season against the Red Devils, only to be forced off injured inside ten minutes with a hamstring injury, replaced by International teammate Jake O’Brien.

It got even worse for David Moyes’ side three minutes after, as Idrissa Gana Gueye was shown a straight red card after fighting with teammate Michael Keane.

But the visitors still managed to take the lead through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall just on the half an hour mark, and they held out for the 1-0 win to move up to eleventh and level with their opposition on 18 points, one place ahead of Merseyside rivals Liverpool on goal difference.

The Killybegs man was returning to Merseyside full of confidence after a sensational two matches on International duty with the Republic of Ireland as they defeated Portugal 2-0 and Hungary 3-2 to finish second in their World Cup qualifying Group F, thanks to a 96th minute Troy Parrott winner as he sealed a hat-trick in Budapest.

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The 37-year-old defender will be hopeful of a return to full fitness by the New Year, with Ireland’s World Cup play-off semi-final coming up in March away to Czechia, with a possible home final against Denmark or North Macedonia on the cards should they win.