"It was great to be able to feel like a footballer again."
There may well have been more on the pitch than in the stands, on Tuesday night, but Seamus Coleman cared not a jot. He was back playing competitive football again.
It had been 10 months since Coleman had made a competitive outing but he looked the part at Goodison Park in Everton U23s' victory over Portsmouth. The Republic of Ireland captain lasted an our in his side's 3-0 win and even made a couple of his trade-mark forays up-field, and whipped some nice crosses into the Pompey box.
One of the stand-out moments for Coleman, and Everton fans,
arrived on 18 minutes when he tore into a tackle with Portsmouth midfielder Jez Bedford. The ball was there to be won and Coleman showed no fear in winning it.
Having just returned from a horrific leg break, sustained on Ireland duty against Wales, it was an important challenge for Coleman to commit to.
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Following the game,
Coleman told the Everton website what he had said to Portsmouth winger moments after his meaty challenge.
"That was more for me than it was the young lad!
"I just told him that at the time as well and he was fine with it.
"I knew tackles and things like that were never going to be a bother. That one was more for the few fans that were here that there are no psychological effects."
Coleman enjoyed the return to action and said the occasion was added to by taking place at his home ground.
"To be able to walk out the tunnel and see the stadium was great," he commented.
"I managed to get some minutes under my belt and that was fantastic. I treated it like a first-team game and gave it everything.
"I’ve been looking forward to that moment for the last few months – just being able to get the kit on, doing up the shin-pads, rolling my socks up and walking out there. It was great to be able to feel like a footballer again – it’s a fantastic feeling."
It felt pretty good for us too.
