Everton manager David Moyes has urged winger Seamus Coleman to take a leaf out of Tottenham star Gareth Bale’s book.
Bale has emerged as one of the hottest properties in Britain after a series of outstanding performances for Spurs, not least against European champions Inter Milan this week.
Yet Bale was not even a Spurs regular a year ago and Moyes can see similarities with the Donegal-born player, who ended last season on loan at Blackpool.
Moyes said: “Seamus has done great. He is getting games for us now, albeit probably not in his right position.
“We have played him wide on the right when he is a right back. But the experience he is getting — there is a similarity to Gareth Bale.
“Bale is playing wide left but is really a left-back. It is getting him the games, there is a lot of competition at right back here.
“I think it has been good for his development and in time when he does step back, hopefully he will have learned from it.”
Coleman showed glimpses of his talent for the Toffees last season before joining Blackpool in March and playing a key role in their promotion to the Premier League.
Moyes believes Coleman is a better player for his spell away and the 22-year-old will get chance to remind Seasiders boss Ian Holloway of his talent as Everton travel to Bloomfield Road tomorrow.
“Blackpool played a big part in his development because he went there and played in a team which was successful,” Moyes said. “He went right through to the (play-off) final.
“He has done fine but he has just had a little dip in the last week or two and we will need to assess exactly where we think he is.”