SEAMUS COLEMAN and Everton take on Manchester City at Goodison Park tonight in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final.
Over the next month, Everton face Manchester City three times with the two legs of the League Cup semi coming either side of next week’s Premier League fixture.
Coleman hasn’t scored yet this season, but the Killybegs man says that’s down to Gerard Deulofeu’s influence on the right flank.
“Playing in front of me, he hugs the touchline which means I can’t get around him or get wide – I’m more inside playing the ball to him,” Coleman – who netted 12 goals across the previous two seasons – said.
“The gaffer still wants us getting forward with the right opportunities but it’s just a little bit different. But if it works for the team I’ve no complaints.”
2016 is a big year for Coleman, who will go to France in June with the Republic of Ireland for the Euro 2016 finals. Four years ago, Coleman was left at home by Giovanni Trapattoni despite a public clambour for his inclusion in the squad for the trip to Poland.
Coleman said:”It’s something the whole country is looking forward to but we’ve got club games coming thick and fast, but there will be evenings where it just pops into your head.
“We’ve got a very good group at the minute, a good team spirit and we’re all delighted to be part of it.
“But the most important thing now is about playing well for my club and making sure I’m there – and hopefully if I am, it’ll be a great occasion.
“It was great to qualify the way we did. It was a great night in Dublin against Bosnia.”
Coleman’s defensive capabilities really stood out in the two-legged play-off win over Bosnia, but first his attentions will be on club matters and a place at Wembley is the carrot that dangles before the Toffees ahead of tonight’s first leg against Manchester City.
Everton take on Dagenham and Redbridge this weekend in the FA Cup, but the Everton manager, Roberto Martinez, would swap Cup success for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
“I don’t think winning a cup will keep the young players. I think qualifying for the Champions League could help to keep young players,” said Martinez.
“I wouldn’t say I don’t want to win silverware, because that is what this club is about and our aim is to have that drive and ambition to do that, but the aim is get into the top four, and that is what we have set out to achieve.”
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