FULLY fit and with games and goals under his belt for new club Cardiff City, Callum O’Dowda says he has “unfinished business” with the Republic of Ireland and, after a series of false dawns, the 27-year-old intends to deliver on his rich promise.
O’Dowda got a bit of stick when he left Bristol City to cross the Severn River to rivals Cardiff over the border in Wales. Since his move, manager Steve Morison has been sacked and the Blue Birds are just a point above the bottom three.
But with two goals from his seven games so far things are going well for O’Dowda on a personal level and he hopes that’s a sign of good things to come for his country.
“I feel like I have a lot to offer,” he said.
“In club football as well, when I really got going, I'd be hit down with an injury or something like that. “I feel as though I have unfinished business in a way and the gaffer here has been great with me with phone calls and checking up on me to see how I am. I want to repay that loyalty he has had in me as I did start quite a few of his early games.
“I'm just delighted to be back playing and back amongst the boys. I'm grateful to still be around the set-up but I still feel I have a lot to offer and I feel I've had a good start to life at Cardiff too.
“I'm feeling really good. It has been quite a while and it always seemed that when the international break came around I was in the middle of a long-term injury. I had a hamstring operation and I've had a fair share of unlucky injuries but now I'm feeling good where I'm at. I've settled in nicely at Cardiff City and I'm happy to be back in the (Ireland) fold.”
When he was out injured, Republic of manager Stephen Kenny would regularly name-check O’Dowda and the likes of Robbie Brady. There’s no doubt that the experience and quality of both have been missed and Kenny must have his fingers crossed that both have left their injury issues behind them.
O’Dowda – whose sister Jade won a bronze medal for England in Heptathlon at this year’s Commonwealth Games - says Kenny consistently made an effort to keep him in the loop and check on his fitness when injury had ruled him out of linking up with his squads.
“He was very good with contact,” he said.
“I guess that just shows what he’s like, not just a manager but a human being, which you don’t normally see a lot from managers. But we have had private conversations and I do learn a lot from him showing that trust and loyalty to me.
“It gave me added motivation with my rehab and stuff, but I fully backed myself. I don’t want to be one of those guys who, when I retire, people say injuries tarnished his career or he didn’t fulfil his potential because of injuries. Hopefully this is the season I can kick on and truly just get back to being at my best playing regular football.”
Tall and powerful, O’Dowda is a smart player who has played on both wings and at left-back or wing-back. Republic manager Kenny could utilise his quick feet and athleticism on the left side of midfield.
“The position I enjoy the most is probably playing higher up, further forward,” said O’Dowda.
“But I think, especially in this Ireland team, the left side could be my strongest position. It’s been an interesting one, I’ve been quite versatile.”
