Seamus Coleman insists the fire within himself is still burning as strong as ever and his physical condition will ultimately dictate future plans in football.
Coleman made the switch to Goodison Park back in 2009, joining from Sligo Rovers for £60,000. Since then, the full-back has gone on to establish himself as an Everton stalwart.
But injuries to his groin and hamstring in the past two years have kept Coleman out of action for significant periods, including the start of this season. However, the defender returned to Frank Lampard’s side following an injury to Nathan Patterson in September.
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Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny wants his skipper spearheading the charge towards the 2024 European Championships despite Coleman being almost 36 by the time of the finals in Germany. And when asked about plans for the future, Coleman insists he’ll only prolong his Ireland career if he’s not been overtaken by the next generation.
He said: "As players we're all competitive. You've always got that fire in your belly, you always want to play but you've got to understand from every angle as well and there have been times where I've come in maybe not in the best of form.
"There are times when I've come in in form and it's just about when you get the opportunity to give as good as you can because ultimately you never know when is the last opportunity. So you've just got to give it everything you've got all the time and ultimately for me, it's always important how the team gets on.
"But of course I've still got that fire in the belly as well to be part of international teams and again that's down to me when I get the opportunity and to make sure I'm doing the business at club level as well."
Before he added: “I wouldn’t say I’ll keep going until I can’t no more because I think you have got to be realistic with your body.
“If I go back to Everton in January and while training notice lads are running past me two or three times in a training session, I think you have got to look at all things.
“But at this moment in time I feel good when I play. Listen, I’m not 23 or 24, I’m not up and down the way I used to, but I feel good.
“I’ve played against some good wingers this season and I’ve felt comfortable. It’s not about looking that far ahead. It’s just about the next game and trying to be as good as I can be in the next game.”
And when asked about his recent return to fitness, Coleman replied: “I feel much better than I did in the summer. I had the procedure done and the pain has left me, thankfully.
“I didn’t start the season at club level, Nathan Patterson did and he was playing ever so well. Unfortunately for him, he got an injury and I got into the team at Everton.
“Again, it takes a couple of games to find your feet, but physically I feel fine. Ultimately, I want to keep going as long as I can.”
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