Everton manager David Moyes has revealed that Seamus Coleman was given a new contract as a reward for his good form.
Coleman pledged his future to the club earlier today, signing a five-and-a-half year deal that will keep him at the club until 2018.
The 22-year-old arrived for just £60,000 in 2009 and, although Moyes admits that he is still some way off Leighton Baines's standard, he is hopeful that his scouts can spot similar bargains in the future.
"He deserves it as he's worked really hard since the early days when we brought him in from Ireland. Seamus is one of the young boys. He is improving. He came as a right-back and we've used him wide right and he has got his chance to settle in and I feel I can use him in either position whenever needed," said Moyes.
"He's a long way to go to get to Leighton Baines's standard at the moment but that's why we've kept him for a long time because we think there's a chance of good improvement in him.
"Hopefully he will continue to improve. You need a good work ethic and Seamus has that and is improving all the time. We got him for very little money and it was great business by our scouts to spot him and bring him in."
Everton currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, just three points off fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Barney Corkhill
