Seamus Coleman to play his first game in 10 months tonight

It's been a long road.

From the GAA player in Killybegs to the average St. Catherine's footballer. From taking a shot - one shot - in a one-off friendly with Sligo Rovers to not getting a chance in the League of Ireland before lighting it up, attracting Everton and going on to become the best player in the country. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/741544520421101568 It's been a long road from the hills of Donegal to captaining Ireland and, this year, it has been a hell of a long 10 months. Seamus Coleman hasn't kicked a ball in competitive football since March 2017. He missed the rest of World Cup qualifiers and had to watch on as Ireland fell short with just 60 minutes between them and Russia. He missed the rest of Everton's season and watched as Ronald Koeman got the sack during a tumultuous period for the Toffees. But Seamus Coleman is back. It's going to take some time to return to that driving aggression, the ferocity with which he launches forward and the mincing intensity in his relentless defensive work. It'll take time. But, on Tuesday night, Seamus Coleman will begin another journey - the rise to the top again. The Irish defender will line out at Goodison Park once more for the Everton under-23 outfit.

Premier League Cup Everton U23 v Portsmouth Tuesday, 7pm, Goodison Park

David Unsworth will give Coleman his first run out since the Aviva last March and Everton fans the world over will be delighted that the 29-year-old is back in action. Delighted for the club, sure. But delighted for a good man who deserves to be back doing what he does best.