Seamus Coleman’s leg broken by Neil Taylor horror challenge during Ireland’s clash against Wales
SEAMUS COLEMAN is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a broken leg after a horror tackle from Wales' Neil Tylor.
The Everton full-back was taken away from the Aviva Stadium on a stretcher after Aston Villa left back Taylor was shown a straight red card.
Coleman, 28, was given oxygen as he was stricken on the floor on Ireland's right flank before being taken away for surgery.
The Everton star will undergo surgery on Saturday on a potential career-threatening injury.
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Team-mate Shane Long rushed to Coleman's side to give him support and put his face close to his pal's in order to shield his eyes from the shattered limb.
Taylor soon acknowledged the error of his ways to Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane as he walked off.
It was a terrible off-the-ground lunge that football is so keen to cut out of the game.
The reason why was just yards from the Aston Villa wing-back.
Football is littered with the names of players who have had their careers ended by such injuries
Hopes and thoughts will be with Everton defender Coleman, who is staring several months in rehab.
Ref Nicola Rizzoli showed no hesitation showing Taylor the red card and not a single supporter in the stadium complained.
Ironically Taylor, 28, has also suffered a nasty ankle break himself in September 2012 during a game against Sunderland when he was at Swansea and missed the rest of the season.
Aaron Ramsey is another, the Arsenal man was just yards from the prostrate Irishman as the red card was shown and he missed a year of football after being hacked down by Ryan Shawcross in 2010.
Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill said: "It's a bad break and Coleman, who is a fantastic player, it's a major blow for the lad himself, it's a major blow for Everton.
"It wasn't the best challenge in the world, I haven't seen it back, he's gone to hospital and I think it's broken.
"I saw Seamus' reaction immediately, he was holding his leg up and it didn't look good."
Experienced Ireland star John O'Shea said: "Fingers crossed for Seamus. We just have to wait and see.
"Our thoughts are with him, we know the type of boy he is and he will come back bigger and stronger. He has a fantastic attitude."
Wales manager Chris Coleman said that Taylor went out of his way to track down the stricken right-back in a bid to apologise.
The Dragons boss said: "Neil Taylor is devastated himself. He went across to the home changing room but I'm not sure Seamus was there.
"Neil is not that type of player, he's had a serious injury himself."