Everton captain Seamus Coleman has withdrawn from international duty with the Republic of Ireland due to a foot injury.
Coleman was due to lead Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team in their two incoming UEFA Nations League clashes this month including a crunch tie with England at Wembley on November 17.
The veteran defender has not featured for Everton since the end of August, after suffering the injury against England in the reverse fixture back in September, and the call has now been made for him to stay on Merseyside.
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Coleman has been named on the bench for recent games by Sean Dyche but his lack of match action has meant a cautious approach from Hallgrimsson.
With the 36-year-old now ruled out, fellow Irish Evertonian Jake O’Brien has been drafted into the squad, after not being included initially by Hallgrimsson.
O’Brien has played just 25 minutes of Premier League action since his summer move from Lyon with Dyche hinting the towering center-back needs to do more to force himself into the starting XI at Goodison Park.
Alongside Coleman’s absence, former Everton defender Shane Duffy and Celtic striker Adam Idah are also out of Hallgrimsson’s plans due to injury, with Matt Doherty and Ryan Manning drafted in.
Ireland were swept aside in Dublin by England in September, with former Irish international and ex-Irish U21 international Declan Rice and Jack Grealish on target in a controversial battle at the Aviva Stadium.
Hallgrimsson picked up his first win as Ireland boss away in Finland in October, either side of defeat to England and two losses against Greece.