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Coleman could yet make Play-Offs, says O'Neill
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill has not ruled skipper Seamus Coleman making the World Cup play-offs next month.
Coleman suffered a horrific double leg break in the goalless draw with Wales in Dublin in March and was expected to be sidelined until December.
But the 28-year-old Everton full-back's recovery is ahead of schedule and he is back back kicking a ball again.
O'Neill hopes that Ireland's 1-0 victory in Cardiff on Monday night which earned them a World Cup play-off spot will give Coleman time with the two-legged tie scheduled for 9 and 14 November.
O'Neill told Sky Sports: "Seamus is doing really, really well and I know what Seamus is like. He has been magnificent for us here around about the camp.
"He's our captain on the field and off the field and it has been great to have him and Jon Walters, who are two big players for us, around the last few days.
"I couldn't call it. I'd have to speak to Alan Byrne, our doctor, but he hasn't played for some time and the play-offs are in early November."
Despite Ireland's success in making the play-offs, Coleman's absence has been a problem and O'Neill made it clear how important when he described him as "world class" and as big an absence to his side as Gareth Bale was to Wales on Monday.
But while the news on Coleman is more encouraging, O'Neill admits that striker Walters has "no chance" of being involved.
The Burnley player has been out for several weeks with a recurring knee problem that has already had two lots of surgery in the last 18 months.
He said: "I would have thought there was absolutely no chance of Jon Walters being back because he is out for quite a number of weeks."
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