Coleman aims to keep improving
Everton and Republic of Ireland winger Seamus Coleman can hardly believe how rapidly his career is progressing.
The 22-year-old Irishman, signed from Sligo Rovers two years ago, agreed a new contract only last May but has already had that torn up and replaced after an outstanding start to the season.
Coleman today finalised a new four-and-a-half-year deal which commits him to the Goodison Park club until the end of the 2014-15 campaign.
He joins forward Victor Anichebe in re-signing after the Nigeria forward also agreed a new contract for the same length.
Coleman spent the second half of last term on loan at Blackpool but has since returned at Merseyside and established himself on the Toffees' right flank, scoring five goals this term.
Coleman told evertontv: "I'm over the moon to sign the contract.
"My aim was to keep impressing after every contract and this new one proves that I've been doing well. I just want to keep going now.
"When I came over first it was a two-year contract and I treated it as a trial.
"I got a new one whilst I was at Blackpool, and to get another one so quickly was a surprise because that's three in a short space of time."
The new deals for Coleman and Anichebe are good news for the club after the £2.5m sale of Steven Pienaar to Tottenham earlier this week.
Everton decided to cash on in Pienaar rather than lose him on a free transfer at the end of his contract in the summer.
Manager David Moyes has acted quickly following the South African's departure to ensure that powerful forward Anichebe remains part of his plans.
The academy product, who was also in the final season of his contract, has been hampered by injuries over the past two seasons but recently made an impressive return to the side.
Moyes' squad lacks the depth of his rivals' and the Scot has little money to bring in new faces during the current transfer window.
The Everton boss has said he is concentrating on loan signings but it remains to be seen if the Pienaar sum and an undisclosed loan fee from Leicester for Ayegbeni Yakubu allow him more flexibility.
Coleman, an U-21 international, is now tipped to win full honours with Republic of Ireland in the near future.
The £60,000 bargain signing said: "When I go out on the pitch I get my head down and I have a go.
"Even if it's not going well for me on the ball, I'll keep running around and giving it 100% and the fans appreciate that."
