LONDON, March 26 — Ireland football coach Martin O’Neill says doctors cannot give a fixed time for when Seamus Coleman will return to action after he suffered a horrific double fracture of his right leg in their 2018 World Cup qualifier with Wales on Friday.

The 28-year-old fullback and Ireland skipper suffered the injury in a horror tackle by Neil Taylor, who was sent off.

O’Neill, whose side’s 0-0 draw maintained their unbeaten record in the qualifiers sitting second in the table behind Serbia, told the BBC his recovery would depend on several factors.   

"I’m not sure, I would only be guessing. Even the doctors and surgeons wouldn’t be terribly sure,” said O’Neill of the timeline for his recovery to full fitness.

"Sometimes there are complications afterwards and injuries can be more prolonged, other times it can be clean and clear sailing.

"It will take some time, but Seamus has great determination and sometimes those things work very much in your favour, in terms of recovery.”

O’Neill, whose side play Euro 2016 quarter-finalists Iceland in Dublin in a friendly on Tuesday, said he had visited the Everton star in hospital both prior to and post operation.

"He has realised everything that has happened and is obviously very disappointed,” said O’Neill.

"It will take some time to heal. It’s a double break, but it has been pinned up now and screwed in.

"I know the doctors and surgeons are all very, very pleased with the way the operation has gone and now it’s time for recuperation.

"I saw him the evening of the injury, he was fairly groggy. It’s a devastating blow for the lad. He was having a phenomenal season at his club and a phenomenal season for us as captain.” — AFP