Everton boss Roberto Martinez: ‘We did enough to win’

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill will be keeping a close eye on Sunday’s Merseyside Derby in the Premier League.

Boss Roberto Martinez has insisted that Everton did enough to earn all three points in their draw against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.

“We are disappointed with the goal we conceded from a dead ball situation, but I was extremely pleased with the way we reacted and performed”.

Asked ahead of this weekend’s top-flight clash with Liverpool at Goodison Park if the pair would be able to play in it, Martinez said on Friday: “It is too early to tell. We have got two sessions now where he is going to be involved with the group and we’ll make a final assessment”.

“I thought Tim Howard had a very good game as well but overall, in a very tight game, [there were] a huge amount of positives”, Martinez added.

Coleman’s importance to the side means he will be given every opportunity to prove his ability to play a part in either or both games but the fact that he has been completely sidelined with a hamstring problem since limping out of his club side’s win over Chelsea nearly a month ago makes him a highly unlikely starter against the World champions on Thursday while even the Poland game next Sunday, Coleman’s 27th birthday, looks improbable. “We are going to work with Ireland and hopefully get Séamus on the pitch as quick as we can”, added Martinez, who has had a number of run-ins with the Irish management regarding the fitness of Coleman, Aiden McGeady, James McCarthy and Darron Gibson. I doubt it will be two or three days and he will be fine.