Soccer

Robbie Brady ready for a 'fresh start' under new boss Stephen Kenny

Republic of Ireland's Robbie Brady is fit and ready to go again after a difficult couple of years with injury
Republic of Ireland's Robbie Brady is fit and ready to go again after a difficult couple of years with injury Republic of Ireland's Robbie Brady is fit and ready to go again after a difficult couple of years with injury

ONE phone call from the new Republic of Ireland manager gave Robbie Brady the boost that he needed. After a couple of seasons plagued by injury, the Burnley ace is intent on resurrecting his international career – and feels Stephen Kenny is the man to help him do it.

Now 28, Brady’s star was very much in the ascendancy after a series of brilliant performances at Euro 2016.

And while some of his displays post-Euros weren’t at the same level, a series of injuries seriously hampered his progress for club and country for the best part of two years.

A serious knee injury saw him miss the second half of the 2017/18 season. After making a full recovery, a hamstring injury derailed him again the following season.

Throw in a couple of broken ribs and you can see why Brady’s international career has dipped since that balmy summer of 2016 in France.

One of the lowest points of his international career was being left out of Mick McCarthy’s squad for Euro 2020 qualifying games against Switzerland and Georgia 11 months ago before he was recalled for the Denmark match where he was an unused substitute.

For footballers who have suffered bad injuries, an uninterrupted pre-season is absolute essential.

Speaking to reporters ahead of tomorrow night’s Nations League clash with Bulgaria in Sofia, Brady feels he can reach the standards he set in 2016 and was full of praise for Kenny.

“The new manager has shown great confidence in me and has reassured me of my own ability,” Brady said. “He’s been great with me from the first phone call I’ve had with him. I think it’s going to be a fresh start for myself.

“It just made me happy to know the detail he spoke about. He was saying I am more than capable of playing at the level I've shown before and he was looking forward to helping me do that.

“It’s just good to hear when someone goes in-depth of what you’re good at; you know they’re not making stuff up on the spot. I’ve had in-depth conversations with him and like I say he’s been great for me. I'll be giving it my all for him and for the rest of the lads.

“It definitely helps [to hear those things] especially when I had a bit of a sticky period over the last couple of seasons. I wasn’t playing nearly enough football that I would have liked. I have a full pre-season done now – well, the best of a full pre-season you could have done – and I’ve come in now and I feel good coming into the week."

With Enda Stevens playing so well at left back, Brady could slot into a midfield role – or play behind the main striker, depending on what formation Kenny opts for against the Bulgarians tomorrow night and Finland on Sunday in Dublin.

Regardless of how the former U21 international manager lines out his team, the most striking aspect of Kenny’s early reign has been the passion he’s displayed both to his players and the media.

The former Dundalk and Derry City manager has talked about changing the face of Irish football and how it is viewed around the world.

Brady was hugely impressed with what the new manager had to say.

“From the conversations that I’ve had with him I know how much this means to him,” Brady said, “how much this job means to him, and he knows how much it means to us.

“We've not had the best of times over the last couple of years with results and performances and he is looking to change that and put his stamp on it.

“He has reiterated how important it is and how passionate he is and what it can do for us, not just as a team but as a country.

“Everyone enjoys it when we are performing well and getting to these major tournaments. We've got a great opportunity now and it is inspiring for myself and all the lads.”

Of course, there has to be substance behind a manager’s philosophy, and Kenny has delivered at Dundalk and with Ireland’s U21s with a passing game that has earned rave reviews.

Brady is insistent the Irish players can adapt their style to the needs of the new manager.

“We're all professional footballers and we've all played different ways at different clubs and we've all had to adjust to different systems and ways that managers want to play,” he said. “So, although it is a quick turnaround, the information will come in and we will have to process that. Obviously it will get better over time but we haven't got time at the minute so we need to put it to work now.”