Everton to reward Coleman with improved contract - Gibson return ahead of schedule

Killybegs man Coleman has enjoyed a sensational season so far, scoring six goals from right back, five of them in the Premier League. No other Everton right back has equalled that record, and the season is only half finished. Everton have also kept nine clean sheets, so the defensive work is proving as valuable as the attacking performances.

According to the official Everton website, manager Roberto Martinez has indicated that Everton are keen to reward the former Sligo Rovers player for his performances.

Coleman has four-and-a-half years left on his current deal but the website says Martinez will sit down with the Republic of Ireland defender in the summer.

In an evertonfc.com poll where fans were asked to name their player of the season so far, Coleman was the popular choice, winning 44 per cent of the votes.

“I’m sure at the end of the season we will look at his contract,” the website evertonfc.com quotes Martinez as saying. “His role in the team is growing, he is getting more important.

“He is happy at Everton and has a long-term contract but I always said that players that do well and perform, it is my intention to sit down in the summer and reassess.

“He has created at least two good opportunities in every game and has been getting better in taking those chances and is getting better.

“He is getting stronger in the build-up play, in the positional play, and growing as a player. He is a young man but the sky is the limit.”

His goal against Southampton over the Christmas period had pundits purring, and Gary Nevill joked that it embarrassed other full-backs.

Following that performance, Coleman proposed to his long-term sweetheard, Rachel Cunningham.

Meanwhile Everton’s phyio department has confirmed on twitter that Gibson is responding well to treatment and that his recovery is ahead of schedule.

According to reports in Liverpool, he may feature again at the end of April, to help Everton’s push for a European spot.