Seamus Coleman is set to miss the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2024 qualifiers against France and Netherlands as he continues his recovery from injury.
Coleman has indicated he is still up to two months or so from a return to Premier League action, ruling out a chance of being involved in the green shirt of Ireland.
He suffered the serious knee injury against Leicester City with four matches to go in the English season.
The Toffees survived, with Coleman on the sidelines as he missed the conclusion of their year and the Ireland games against Greece and Gibraltar.
Speaking in an interview to be broadcast on this weekend’s edition of Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, he said: "It's getting there. When I did [the injury] at the time, I was thinking worst case scenario and that it would be a lot worse than it has turned out to be
"I'm back on the grass now, running, and training on my own with physios. I'm back kicking a ball again so slowly but surely getting there
"In terms of an end date, I think it's more a week-to-week thing. As long as I keep progressing, we'll speed it up. At the minute all is going well."
Defeat to Greece has left Ireland with an outside chance of qualification for the Euros through the group route.
Stephen Kenny’s side could change that scenario if they can produce the country’s best result since beating Germany in 2015.
Coleman said: "I think we need a big result against a big nation. They are two tough games. Ideally we would have got something from the Greece game. That was a massive disappointment, there's no getting away from that.
"In saying that I thought they were a very good technical team and a very good side. But that was a big disappointment. It leaves us in a position where we need to get something. Holland at home will be an opportunity to get something.
"Going to France will be tough. We showed we did alright before. It's tough, but we have to believe. I think Holland at home is a great opportunity for us. If we get something in France it would be great too."
