Midfield duo can form formidable partnership says Everton and Ireland team-mate
James McCarthy battles for Everton
Seamus Coleman believes his international team-mates Darron Gibson and James McCarthy can forge a formidable midfield partnership – for club and country.
Gibson is back in the Republic of Ireland fold after an 18-month self imposed exile and could feature in Friday night’s trip to Germany.
But injury has restricted the 25-year-old to just two Toffees appearances since Irish team-mate James McCarthy joined him at Goodison – the Capital One Cup tie at Fulham and half an hour at Manchester City on Saturday.
But Coleman is excited about the prospect of the pair playing together.
“Darron has been brilliant since he came to Everton,” he said.
“I know he's been injured at times but ask any Everton fan since he’s come from Manchester United and they'll tell you he's been brilliant.
“His range of passing is brilliant and he’ll be a great asset.
“They are both brilliant players. Both are good ball players and they can get about the pitch as well. Hopefully it can bode well for being here with Ireland.”
Darron Gibson in flying action
McCarthy’s influence has swiftly grown at Goodison since his £13m switch from Wigan on transfer deadline day and he received rave notices for his performance in the defeat at Manchester City on Saturday.
“James has settled in at Everton straight away,” added Coleman. “I don't know if you have seen any of the games but he’s been brilliant in all the games he’s played in.
“Our manager knew what he brought to the table when he signed him and he’s been great for us. He was waiting around until the last minute on deadline day, it was quite a stressful one for him, but he was glad to get it done.”
And Coleman is satisfied with the way the new regime is settling down at Everton.
“It's been going quite well,” he said. “He (Roberto Martinez) has come in and he has put his own philosophy on the team, and we have done quite well to adapt to it.
“We have got very good players. The City game was a disappointment, but hopefully we can put that right with the next game at home to Hull.
“But it's been a good start and we have all enjoyed it. It's different. You can see that he likes to play out from the back a bit more, but he has been great for us and hopefully we can have a good, successful season under him.”
Coleman squares up to Negredo
Ireland can no longer qualifiy for next summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil and head into Friday’s game in Cologne and Tuesday’s home clash with Kazakhstan with no permanent successor to Giovanni Trapattoni yet appointed.
Under-21s boss Noel King, for whom Coleman made one appearance before his elevation to the senior squad, will take charge of the two games.
But while Darron Gibson has returned to the international fold as a direct result of Trapattoni’s exit, Coleman admits he was sad to see the Italian go.
He said: “He was great with me. He gave me my first cap and he gave me plenty after that, so I never had any problems with him.
“Obviously, it’s sad to see a manager go, but we have to look forward now and the players have to impress on Friday night and Tuesday night because the new manager could be watching.”
However for Coleman, one of the few survivors of last October’s 6-1 mauling by the Germans at the Aviva Stadium, there is a wrong to be righted as well as a potential new manager to impress.
He said: “Obviously we want to go in and make sure that doesn’t happen again, but we won’t go in with the hangover from it. We will go in hoping to impress the new manager who’s watching, and obviously to do a good job for Noel as well on a big night for him."
Meanwhile, two Everton games in December have been moved for live television coverage. The trip to Arsenal scheduled for December 7, has been put back to Sunday, December 8 (4pm) for live screening by Sky, while the trip to Swansea on December 21 is on Sunday, December 22 (4pm).
