A RETURN to training with Everton this week reminded Seamus Coleman of his time in the League of Ireland.
Everton’s players trained in groups of four, as per the UK’s Covid-19 guidelines, from Wednesday.
Coleman trained alongside other defenders Yerry Mina, Michael Keane and Leighton Baines for their session at Finch Farm.
Players arrived in their kit and immediately returned home after training.
“I rang my mum on the way home from training and mentioned that – our own kit coming home with us,” Coleman said.
“It’s a long time since that’s been done. We used to do it at Sligo Rovers when I still lived with my mum and dad, they remember it well. We did it at Blackpool (where Coleman played on loan in the 2009/10 season) as well.”
Premier League chiefs are hopeful of a return to action on June 12 with work progressing be2hind the scenes.
Coleman said: “The ideal scenario is we get back playing Premier League football and to do that, as players, we need to make sure we are doing everything right.
“The club made sure of that by telling us the rules and regulations. There are measurements to tell us how far to stay apart and a one-way system around the building, so you are not crossing paths with people.
“It feels as safe as it possibly can and, hopefully, we can move to phase two as quickly and safely as possible.”
The Republic of Ireland captain added: “Getting back, you feel there is some normality coming back to the world . . . that things are progressing.
“You are excited to get back to work. It’s probably the longest I’ve been away from Finch Farm. Driving through [the gates] was a great feeling but it’s definitely a little bit different.
“When you got there, you could see the work that has been put in to make it as safe as possible. We are in small groups and it is serious, we have to do things properly.”
