'Darron Gibson will be a massive player for Ireland' - Everton defender Seamus Coleman

9 Nov 2012 08:25:00

The former Sligo Rovers full back believes that his Toffees team mate can become a very important player for the Boys in Green should he return from exile

Everton defender Seamus Coleman has said that Darron Gibson can be a 'massive' player for the Republic of Ireland, should make himself available for selection again.

Gibson, 25, has refused to make himself available for selection following the disappointment he experienced at Euro 2012, but Coleman believes that he has blossomed since joining the Goodison Park club and can translate that form to the international stage.

"He will be a massive player for Ireland," Coleman said. "I was in a couple of Ireland squads with him when he was at Man United, but I didn't get to really see how good he is until he came to Everton. His range of passing is superb. Ask any Everton fan about him and they will sing his praises."

He added: "He has been unbelievable since coming to the club. Him and (Nikica) Jelavic, the whole form of the team really improved and the sooner we get him back the better."

However, Coleman refused to be drawn on the former Manchester United player's decision to make himself unavailable, stressing that it was not in his power to make Gibson return.

"Everyone knows that Darron pulled himself out of one of the squads but I haven't really spoken to him about it," he said of Gibson's self-imposed exile. "We see each other every day at training but it's his thing and it's not up to me to tell him to come back. It's his own decision."

Meanwhile, Coleman is eager to make the right back position his own after impressing in recent games and admits that it is his prerogative to stay in the team for as long as possible.

"I've got my chance now and obviously I would have liked more in the last few years, but there are a lot of good players in my position. But I never gave up hope and I got in," he said.

"It's up to me to try and stay in the team for as long as I can. If selected against Greece next week, I need to do well and try impress the manager and Marco (Tardelli)," concluded the Everton defender.