SOCCER: NEWS ROUND-UP:REPUBLIC OF Ireland international Séamus Coleman has expressed his delight at making the shortlist for this season's PFA Young Player of the Year award with the 22-year-old admitting he is sometimes amazed at how far he has come in such a short space of time since leaving Sligo Rovers for Everton.
The Donegalman, who has thrived since being handed a regular starting spot on the right side of Everton’s midfield by David Moyes, has been included in a list that also includes Gareth Bale, Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere, Joe Hart, Javier Hernandez and Nani. Bale and Nasri also make a shortlist for the senior award that is completed by Charlie Adam, Scott Parker, Carlos Tevez, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael van der Vaart.
No Irish player has every won the young player’s award and given the quality of his rivals for this year’s prize, Coleman is, realistically, unlikely to break that duck but making the list, which is compiled on the basis of votes cast by players themselves is a tremendous achievement.
“It is fantastic news,” Coleman told his club’s website. “At the start of the season I would not have expected that and when you see the names on that shortlist, it is just a great achievement to be mentioned alongside them.
“At the start of the season I hoped things would go this well but if I am honest then I probably did not think they would. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself. Two years ago I was at Sligo and now and then I look around the changing room here and think ‘wow, this is really happening to me’.”
Pressed on who he feels might win, Coleman insists the quality of the nominees makes it difficult to rule anyone out but, he says, “Obviously Gareth Bale stands out and he will probably be in the running for the main award. Then there is Jack Wilshere who played against Barcelona and was one of the best players over the two legs.
“But there are lots of contenders,” he continues, “too many to mention everyone. I am sure the other lads might think about winning it but for me just to be in the top seven is fantastic and an achievement in itself.”
Having scored six goals since establishing himself in the team in September, Coleman has become a key figure for Everton but the midfielder is a doubt for today’s lunchtime game at Wolves after limping out of last week’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
Stephen Hunt misses out again for Wolves with Mick McCarthy confirming yesterday that after a comeback with the reserves earlier in the week, the midfielder will now undergo a hernia operation, ruling him out for several more weeks. “They can come back after two, three weeks after hernias now,” said McCarthy. “It’s not like him because he’s a tough character who wants to play.”
Hunt’s brother Noel is expected to return from a foot injury for Reading as they push for a top-two Championship finish at Nottingham Forest.
Preston will be hoping to take something from Portsmouth to boost their battle against relegation and manager Phil Brown, cited recently by Keith Treacy as a positive influence on his game since taking over a couple of months back, is hoping the Irish winger’s occasional ill-discipline doesn’t earn him a booking today that would bring a two-match ban.
“I’m not going to sacrifice players because they have nine yellows,” says Brown “And with regards to Keith Treacy, hopefully he will give us quality as opposed to the petulant kicking away of the ball. As far as I’m concerned, Keith is a talented player – sometimes an angry player – someone with a purpose and a point to prove.”
After nearly a month out with a hamstring problem, John O’Shea is available for Manchester United to face Fulham at Old Trafford but Damien Duff is a doubt for the visitors due to an Achilles injury.
