Seamus Coleman Injury: Updates on Everton Star's Status and Return

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 16

Seamus Coleman may remain absent for Everton as they prepare for Aston Villa this weekend.

Roberto Martinez commented, per Everton's official Twitter:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 9

Roberto Martinez talked about Coleman's status for Sunday, according to Everton's official Twitter feed:

"

MARTINEZ ON McCARTHY & COLEMAN: "It’s too early to tell whether they can play against Villa. We are going to assess them day by day." #EFC

— Everton (@Everton) October 9, 2014"

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 5

Everton confirmed Seamus Coleman is not fit to play today:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 3

Seamus Coleman will undergo a late check to determine whether he is fit to face Manchester United this weekend.

Roberto Martinez revealed, via Everton's official Twitter:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 1

Seamus Coleman's absence from the Everton team continues after it was confirmed he has not travelled with the squad to Krasnodar.

Greg O'Keeffe of the Liverpool Echo has the latest:

O'Keefe also passed along comments from Roberto Martinez on Coleman's status for the Manchester United match:

Original Text

Seamus Coleman remains a doubt for Everton's trip to face Liverpool, providing Roberto Martinez with plenty of concern ahead of Saturday's Merseyside derby.

The marauding right-back hasn't played since sustaining a head injury during the Europa League win over Wolfsburg. Martinez noted the player was in "observation" after the Sept. 18 tie, per ESPN, but Coleman failed to appear during the following Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace and Tuesday's Capital One Cup loss against Swansea.

Martinez remains unsure whether his key player will be ready to face Everton's city rivals, per the club's official Twitter account:

Coleman has developed into a pivotal part of Martinez's squad across the past year and is one of the top flight's most effective attacking full-backs. He has scored one goal and provided an assist in four appearances so far after scoring six and setting up two last season, per WhoScored.com.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

His industrious running down the right has defined Everton's improved attacking play since Martinez took over. Coleman's tenacity is a major strength, as he is rarely caught out of position at the back, even when bombing forward.

Football writer Matt Jones details the importance of the Irish international:

Liverpool will certainly gain in confidence if Coleman is missing. In particular, Raheem Sterling may be increasingly willing to float over to the left flank in the defender's absence, as he'll fancy himself more eagerly against John Stones or Tony Hibbert, who could be brought in to replace the Toffees star.

Both sides have lost two of their last three Premier League matches. Coleman's potential recovery would provide the visitors with a real boost after the midweek loss to Swansea and could define whether Martinez manages to gain his first derby victory with a team that regularly capitulates when it travels to Anfield.