Seamus Coleman is rapidly recovering – both physically and mentally – from the horror leg-break he suffered against Wales in March.
Ireland boss Martin O’Neill revealed how the first few days after the Wales clash were ‘traumatic’ for his captain.
But the Killybegs man is well on the road to recovery.
O’Neill told RTÉ 2FM’s The Nicky Byrne Show: “I was speaking to him just a few days ago.
“Seamus is very, very upbeat now. Obviously the couple of days after the injury were really traumatic.
“Seamus would question himself about all sorts of things. Why did it happen to him and all the things you go through.
“I went to see him a couple of weeks ago when he was still in Donegal. He was really, really upbeat.
“He has really good people around him, obviously family, very, very strong and Seamus of all people, even though you wouldn’t know because off the field he is pretty shy and a really nice lad, but he’s got a real steely determination.
“I don’t think he would have got into a position of one of the best full-backs in Europe if he hadn’t that steely determination.”
O’Neill also revealed that Coleman will help the team with preparations for the World Cup qualifier with Austria on June 11.
O’Neill added: “He is really up for it, he is ready and he is going to come over and join us for a few days for the Austria game, which would be a massive lift for the players.
“He is a top-class captain. It’s a different character. You talk to him around the hotel for a couple of days, he’s self-effacing.
“Then he goes into the dressing-room and he’s a different character completely.
“He is coming to terms with the injury, which is the most important thing. He is very strong mentally and I think things are going well physically for him as well, so that’s great news.”
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