SEAMUS Coleman has not suffered a broken foot despite needing hospital treatment for an injury during Everton FC’s friendly defeat by Villarreal at Goodison last night.

The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder was left writhing in agony following a late first-half tackle by Spain midfielder Carlos Marchena, but initial tests revealed he has escaped any fractures.

Coleman will undergo further scans on Monday to determine whether he has ligament damage, but the news at least means his absence is likely to be more a matter of weeks than months.

And Tim Cahill, his replacement during last night’s final pre-season friendly, insisted the Blues still have the potential to surprise the Premier League, despite a quiet summer in the transfer market, and a patchy pre-season record.

The Aussie midfielder, who hinted that Everton may yet add to their squad, paid tribute to chairman Bill Kenwright and the Goodison board for keeping all of the club’s best players despite interest from a number of the Premier League’s top sides.

He said: “The circumstances are what we are. Financially we’re trying to keep all our best players and when you do that you have to invest in them. Look at eight of the players in the starting 11, they’re on long term deals and that’s expensive to do.