He can empathise as well as anyone.
A serious injury can really draw the dangers of professional sport into sharp focus and watching on as James McCarthy suffered a suspected double leg break on Saturday must have brought back painful memories for Seamus Coleman.
Coleman, still not fit enough for a return to the Everton first-team, watched the Toffees' clash with West Brom from a directors' box. In the 58th-minute, McCarthy tracked Baggies striker Salomon Rondon as he bore down on goal having been played through by Gareth Barry.
The Republic of Ireland international, in a last-ditch attempt to stop Rondon from scoring, stretched out his right leg and planted his foot in between the forward's foot and the ball. With his studs firmly planted in the turf, Rondon's boot clashed with the back of McCarthy's leg, breaking his leg in the process.
The incident was a harrowing one, leaving Rondon in tears as McCarthy received treatment on the pitch. Then, as the midfielder was stretchered off and applause rang out around Goodison Park, Coleman was said to have left his position in the directors' box to go down and comfort his teammate.
https://twitter.com/GregOK/status/954749619992514562
https://twitter.com/_Drew_McCoy_/status/954753967820386304
https://twitter.com/RBMersey/status/954749663860715520
Of course, the extent of Coleman's involvement was to perhaps offer a few much-needed words of encouragement to his club and international teammate. But it still would have meant a great deal to McCarthy and it's a measure of Coleman's compassion and kindness. He has rightly garnered a reputation as one of football's nicer men and little tidbits like this only endorse that label.
https://twitter.com/IssyStanton/status/954768569396531200
https://twitter.com/MollyOHarrison/status/954767880217923585
https://twitter.com/Everton/status/954764623701594112
