Coleman's delight at new deal

EVERTON'S Donegal midfielder, Seamus Coleman was today (Thursday) given a reward for his sensational form this season, in the form of a new contract.

Coleman and striker Victor Anichebe have signed new four and a half year deals with the club.

The official Everton website is reporting that both players have penned four-and-a-half year deals, keeping them at the club until 2015.

Killybegs man, Coleman, 22, has been one of this season's success stories, becoming a regular in the Toffees' midfield.

He originally joined as a full-back from Sligo Rovers, but manager David Moyes enlisted his pace and skill going forward to solve a problem on the right side of midfield - and Coleman has been a revelation, scoring five goals already this season.

Coleman, 22, had only signed a new contract last May, but his impressive progress this season has prompted Chairman Bill Kenwright to offer him a longer term deal on vastly improved terms.

The defender has scored five goals already in 22 appearances this campaign, earning rave reviews for his displays as a make-shift midfielder and winning comparisons with highly rated Gareth Bale, of Spurs, who was also converted from a defensive to a midfield role.

The better contract is believed to be designed to protect the club's asset and ward off a list of potential suitors.

Likewise, former academy striker Anichebe, 22, finally ended speculation linking him with a move from Goodison Park, which had seen some sections of the Goodison club's fans voice their disapproval.

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 (on loan at the end of last season), and to get another one so quickly was a surprise because that's three in a short space of time."

Coleman told evertontv that, even when he feels things are not going his way, he tries to make sure he makes the best possible contribution.

"When I go out on the pitch I get my head down and I have a go," said Coleman.

"Even if it's not going well for me on the ball, I'll keep running around and giving it 100 per cent and the fans appreciate that."