Seamus Coleman breaks all-time Everton record in Aston Villa draw

The Everton captain returned from injury to make his first start since the 3-0 win over Newcastle United in early December, and helped the Toffees to another clean sheet.

Coleman's appearance took him to 355 in the Premier League, surpassing the previous record held by long-serving goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The right-back broke Leon Osman's outfield record in featuring in the Newcastle win, but now holds the accolade outright in his 15th year with the club.

Pre-match, supporters in the Gwladys Street end of Goodison Park held up a large banner recognising Coleman's long-standing service to the club with the quote "15 Years of Seamus".

The Republic of Ireland international joined Everton back in 2009 for just £60,000 from Sligo Rovers in his homeland, giving inspiration to the song that the club's supporters sing in his honour.

After breaking into the team in the early 2010s after a loan spell at Blackpool, Coleman became a regular and has remained one ever since.

It was in the mid-2010s where Coleman enjoyed his finest days as an Everton player, when the club regularly challenged for Europe under David Moyes, and in the early days of the tenures under Roberto Martinez and Ronald Koeman.

In particular, despite playing on opposite flanks, it was Coleman's relationship with left-back Leighton Baines that saw the Irishman receive much adulation, given the goalscoring and assisting exploits of the pair.

Had it not been for some near-career-threatening injuries though, Coleman would have reached the milestone much sooner.

While representing the Republic of Ireland, Coleman suffered fractures of both his tibia and fibula following a horror challenge from Wales' Neil Taylor, which kept him out for almost a year.

On his return though, Coleman slotted back in seamlessly to the Everton defence, and would become club captain 18 months later, after Phil Jagielka's departure.

In the midst of their relegation battle last season, Coleman scored a vital winner at home to Leeds United, but suffered another very serious injury against Leicester City which kept him out for six months.

In similar circumstances to how he fought to return following his broken leg, Coleman has once again taken his place as Everton's starting right-back even at 35, and looks set to add to his record appearance tally in the coming years.