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It stands as the best £60,000 Everton ever spent.

For half the weekly wage paid to, say, an Andy Carroll, the Blues picked up a timid Irishman whom now, five years on, is set to confirm his place as one of the finest full-backs in the Premier League.

Seamus Coleman’s rise to prominence is one of the few reminders that, even in the modern game, money does not hold the key to everything; that there is still room for hard-work, a strong, positive attitude and a spot of man-management too.

Everton pipped Ipswich Town and Birmingham City, among others, to sign the then 20-year-old from Sligo Rovers in January 2009.

If David Moyes’ legacy at Goodison has been the subject of some hasty revision over the past 12 months or so, this is one decision for which the Scotsman will never be faulted.

The man from Killybegs celebrated his 100th Premier League start for the club by netting in the 2-2 home draw with Arsenal a fortnight ago.

Passing accuracy

Having started the opening game of the season on the bench due to a hamstring injury, his performance was typically energetic, they type of which Goodison has become accustomed to. Against Chelsea last weekend, the Irishman provided another assist, for Kevin Mirallas, on a day when Roberto Martinez’s defence failed.

Suddenly, Coleman is arguably Everton’s most important player. His effervescence, strength and delivery from the right is key to how Martinez’s side sets up.

A former Gaelic footballer, he provides width, drive and industry in equal measure, and he is only likely to improve further in the future.

The statistics, naturally, back this up.

Last season, the 25-year-old provided six Premier League goals and two assists. That contribution significantly outweighs those made by Pablo Zabaleta (one goal, six assists), Branislav Ivanovic (three goals, one assist), Bacary Sagna (one goal, three assists), Rafael (no goals, one assist) or Glen Johnson (no goals, three assists).

Indeed, only team-mate Leighton Baines, with five goals and five assists, provided a more potent attacking threat from full-back. And Baines takes the bulk of Everton’s corners, penalties and free-kicks.

Coleman’s pass completion rate of 88.5%, meanwhile, made him the most reliable full-back in the league in terms of possession – a key requirement in a system such as the one Martinez insists upon at Everton.

Goals

His cross completion rate, 30.7%, was the best of any player in the division. Baines, by comparison, had a completion rate of 17.7%.

The pair are already at it this season, executing pinpoint deliveries for Kevin Mirallas and Samuel Eto’o to score against Chelsea last weekend.

In those two, Everton have as potent a full-back pairing as there is in Europe. They created an incredible 94 chances between them last season – Baines 49, Coleman 45. It is a number which dwarfs those of their contemporaries.

Not that it is all about attacking, mind. Defensively, Coleman’s numbers are equally impressive; last season, he won 57% of his ground duels, 55% of his aerial duels, and 81% of his tackles. Strong, quick, technically-accomplished and increasingly disciplined, he is the epitome of the modern full-back.

Easy to forget that his initial emergence in the Premier League was as a raw right-sided midfield player.

His presence for Everton this season will be key if Martinez’s side are to build upon the impressive progress made last term. With Romelu Lukaku signed on permanently, getting quality service into the Belgian will be a priority, and Coleman and Baines, with their purposeful runs and accurate delivery, are likely to provide the main supply line.

“Seamus just grows month by month,” says Martinez. “He’s one of the best full-backs in world football. He is a good example of a footballer with an incredible attitude and appetite for the game.

“I haven’t done anything to coax that out of him, per se. He knows his potential. He plays in a demanding position which needs you to be so good in many areas.”

Shot accuracy

Martinez adds: “There’s no reason why he shouldn’t get double figures in terms of goals. Obviously that’s not a target – a full-back never gets on the pitch to score a goal, but what’s true is he gets in such great positions.

“I admire the way he experiments with his role and also looks for assists as well. He’s not a selfish player at all.

“He’s scored six but he’s helped create a good number too. The most impressive aspect of all has been his decision-making.”

That opinion is shared by Roy Keane, assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national team.

“Coleman and Baines are the best two full-backs in the Premier League,” says Keane. “They get forward superbly and make huge influences on the game.”

Despite various transfer links, all of which were dismissed swiftly by Everton, Coleman followed in the footsteps of Martinez, Baines, James McCarthy and Ross Barkley by signing a new long-term contract back in June.

He has spoken repeatedly about his happiness at Goodison, and will now remain until at least 2019.

“I’ve been at Everton five years now and I love everything around the place,” he says. “I love working with all the players, the staff, the coaching staff – everything. It was a very happy decision to make

“And with the manager and some of the players we have, we’re going to the right places.”

If Everton are to reach those places, the Irishman will have a huge role to play.

And the next time you see a transfer fee and think it’s a bit excessive, remember this; Coleman’s first 100 Premier League starts for the Blues came at a cost of £600 per match.

Who says there’s no value in football?