Coleman in action during a pre-season friendly with Espanyol. Barrington Coombs Barrington Coombs

SEAMUS COLEMAN HAS emerged as a major doubt for Ireland’s opening 2018 World Cup qualifier.

The 27-year-old Everton full-back, who captained the Boys in Green at Euro 2016, has been ruled out for “several weeks” due to an ankle injury picked up during pre-season.

Toffees boss Ronald Koeman revealed the news ahead of this afternoon’s Premier League meeting with Tottenham at Goodison Park.

Coleman was not named in the matchday squad after arriving to the stadium in a protective boot.

Ireland play Oman in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium on 31 August before heading to Belgrade to face Serbia in the first game of their qualifying campaign on 5 September.

Manager Martin O’Neill names his squad for those matches in the next couple of weeks, and Coleman’s absence is a significant setback.

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