Everton defender Seamus Coleman is unlikely to play again this year after breaking his leg during the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Wales on Friday.
A terrible tackle by Neil Taylor fractured Coleman's right tibia and fibia, causing him to be being given oxygen before being carried from the field. Taylor was sent off for the challenge.
The Everton star underwent surgery on his injury on Sunday. On Monday, Ireland manager Martin O'Neill said that the operation had been a success but added that Coleman was "obviously very disappointed".
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Everton have been given "slight relief after losing one of their key men on international duty", says the Daily Mirror after it was reported that Coleman's £50,000-a-week wages will be covered by Fifa's club protection programme until his comeback.
The Toffees "sent their own physiotherapists to Dublin on Saturday to liaise with doctors", reports The Times, but adds that the player faces a "painstaking rehabilitation".
Meanwhile, the Irish Independent reports that Coleman's teammate Shane Long "used breathing techniques from his wife's pregnancy" to keep the distressed defender calm after the injury.
"Coleman sent Long a text message after the game to thank him for his support during the immediate aftermath of the injury," adds the paper.
The injury could have repercussions for relations between Everton and Ireland, adds the Times. It says they were already tense over the treatment of Coleman's Everton and that Ireland colleague James McCarthy and O'Neill claimed to have been snubbed by Everton manager Ronald Koeman, who was "left unimpressed when the 26-year-old was called up for the Wales game despite missing Everton's past two matches with another hamstring problem".
"McCarthy trained all week but then pulled out of the warm-up and is now likely to miss the Merseyside derby with Liverpool on Saturday."
