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Seamus Coleman has revealed his determination to come back every inch the player he was before suffering a double leg break.

The Blues right-back has spoken out about his rehabilitation, and the lengths he is going to in order to return without compromising any of his qualities on the pitch.

Coleman, who initially returned home to Donegal after his injury in March, is back on Merseyside and taking every element of his rehabilitation with trademark intensity and professionalism.

He said: "Progress is being made. I'm doing all that I'm being asked of so far and I just have to keep going that way. There is no end date - I'm just wanting to tick the boxes early on and keep improving.

"I've never been a big fan of lifting weights but it's something I've had to do a little bit more now I'm injured.

"Another big part has been my diet. I enjoyed my first month back home without worrying about diet but when I came back to work I cracked on and had to watch what I was doing.

"I went away to Majorca for a few days (at the very start of June) and let myself go a bit in terms of dessert!

"But I do have to look after myself. This is my job and I need to make sure I'm in good shape. When I come back, I don't want to have to chase myself.

"For me it's important to stay positive. Positive thinking helps a lot. I'm going to continue in that way."

Some players have to recapture their best after such a significant injury, even after making their comeback, but Coleman will leave nothing to chance.

"In terms of other players who have suffered similar injuries, I'm not looking at the dates they returned because everyone has got their own journey," he said.

"I want to do everything right to ensure that, when I am back I'm back as 100%. Not 70 or 80. I'm not going to take any short cuts."

Coleman, who was recently honoured by being given the Freedom of County Donegal by his home-twon council, says family and friends have been a big help.

"My family are a massive part of my life," he said. "My parents have been huge in my career so far. My two brothers equally as much. Francis and Stevie put photos of me up on their Facebook page.

"They are both very proud of me and I'm equally as proud of them.I got lucky in that I married a great girl with a great family.

"Everyone is different but, for me, life is family. Football is the second most important thing to me. That's my life summed up - family and football. That's all I care about.

"I'm quite close to all my friends. We had an evening, on the day we played Manchester United at Old Trafford, when all the boys came up to watch the game.

"It was good to chill out with them all. We heard my song being sung by the fans, coming out loud through the TV. That was great. Jags' celebration as well was a nice touch. That was a really good evening at home.

"It was like the old days. We are a very close bunch at home. I have a group of friends that I grew up with playing Gaelic football and it's important we all still stay in touch.