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International breaks are a nuisance. They interrupt the rhythm of the club season – and the only positives you can usually hope for is that all your players come back from international duty injury-free.

But at Everton we did get a very big positive last Friday night.

Seamus Coleman led his country out in a World Cup qualifier in Germany – and while the Republic of Ireland’s chances of qualification had already gone, it still underlined the maturity, the responsibility and the authority that Seamus now possesses – and that’s a tribute to the way Everton have overseen his development.

We’ve long considered Seamus to be potentially one of the best young full-backs in the Premier League.

But now he’s realising that potential.

He’s not so young anymore – at 25 he’s nearing his peak years – and he is blooming into a defender of some distinction.

I’m delighted for him because not only is Seamus a very good player, he’s also a decent, down to earth lad.

He’s a very attentive listener – but that doesn’t stop him from dishing out the occasional rollicking on the pitch to a senior player if he thinks they have warranted it.

Of course he’s still learning – and a rollicking he handed out during our last match at Manchester City will probably have taught him plenty.

Seamus allowed himself to get involved in a confrontation with Alvaro Negredo and for just a few seconds he lost concentration.

It didn’t direct result in City’s equaliser, but he momentarily switched off and it may not have been just coincidence that City drew level in the next phase of play.

He will learn from that experience – but I didn’t mind it.

I like a fiery character – I was involved in enough confrontations myself as a player to be considered hyopcritical if I was to criticise him for squaring up to a player he thought was trying to con the referee and win a penalty (which was ironic given what happened in the second half).

But the bottom line is that Seamus is a winner and that’s what you want.

The Republic of Ireland management certainly recognise his qualities.

To lead out your country is a fantastic honour no matter who you’re facing – but to do it for the first time in a match against a country as formidable and respected as Germany is something else.

It shows just how far Seamus Coleman has come since he first arrived at Finch Farm as a raw, enthusiastic young man from Sligo.

He’s not just a top Premier League player now, he’s a respected international footballer.

And that’s something good to come out of a frustrating international break!

Baines showing quality

WATCHING Leighton Baines perform so superbly for England on Friday night was a bit of a double-edged sword.

You’re proud to see an Everton full-back show the rest of the country what I’ve said for several years now – that he’s the best number three in the country.

But you’re also aware that such impressive performances at international level are going to bring even more interested clubs coveting his services.

There were stories of Bayern Munich interest in the summer, before Manchester United made a couple of unsuccessful bids.

But that’s what happens when you have a top class player in your side.

Everton fans don’t want to lose him, the Blues board have made it clear they want to keep him and the Everton playing staff all hope he’ll be here for many years to come.

But while Europe’s leading clubs are all interested in signing top class players – so are we.

Leighton was different class last Friday against Montenegro and I’m sure he’ll be just as impressive against Poland in tonight’s crunch qualifying clash at Wembley.

And if that means us having to put up with a few more speculative transfer headlines so be it!

Lower leagues take centre stage

INTERNATIONAL breaks can be deadly dull – and after a couple already this season we have another coming up early next month!

But it isn’t all about the Premier League.

And when there’s no top flight action, or even Championship football to enjoy – I love getting out to watch a Conference match or a game in League One or Two.

Being out in Doncaster – and having played and managed them – I try and get out to watch Donny whenever possible.

And I always try and keep in touch with what’s going on lower down the league pyramid.

There have been a couple of sackings already this weekend.

Martin Allen lost his job just months after leading Gillingham to the League Two title, while Kevin Blackwell was sacked as Bury boss.

Both dismissals were, I thought, a little unfair – especially Kevin who must have had the hardest job in football trying to manage a club against a backdrop of severe financial pressures.

Bury have had transfer embargoes and at the start of the season he lost a huge chunk of his squad.

There’s always something happening – good and bad – lower down the league ladder.

Let's hit the ground

I’VE got a lot of time for Steve Bruce. I like him as a person and his Hull City side have surprised a lot of people with the solid way they have started their Premier League campaign.

But it’s still the kind of fixture Everton should be looking to take all three points from.

And if that means Steve going home unhappy that’s something I can live with!

We have the quality to win on Saturday – but I’m always concerned about games after international breaks when we’ve had plenty of players away on duty. We need to hit the ground running at Goodison on Saturday.

Turning the corner

I WAS over at Tranmere Rovers last week chatting to Ronnie Moore, John McMahon and a few of their lads – so I was thrilled to see them secure what could be such a big victory at Bradford on Sunday.

This is a very tough, possibly pivotal month for Rovers – with Leyton Orient up next and other tough tasks against MK Dons and Rotherham looming.

But when I spoke to Sunday’s match-winner Ryan Lowe he thought they just needed a win to turn their season around. Let’s hope they’ve got it!