WHILE some of the bright-eyed U21s Stephen Kenny once had have fallen off the radar, Jayson Molumby has stayed the distance at senior international level and is beginning to justify his manager’s faith in him.
The all-action midfielder has been there from the start since Kenny took the senior reins. Through COVID, to empty stadia, to not being able to buy a goal, never mind a win, Molumby has felt every bump in the road – and is a better footballer for the experience.
Of course, in the early throes of Kenny’s tenure, Molumby was struggling for game-time at club level.
But his international manager seen something in him that others didn’t.
Loan moves to Millwall and Preston NE didn’t work out until he arrived at West Bromwich Albion in August 2021 – a deal that was later made permanent.
Carlos Corberán, West Brom’s forward-thinking manager, obviously views the central midfielder through the same prism as Kenny – and the 22-year-old has repaid the Spaniard by becoming a firm favourite with the Baggies supporters this season.
The Waterford man made his senior international debut in 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Finland in September 2020. Another 17 caps later, Molumby can probably call himself a first-choice midfielder for his country.
In those 18 appearances, there has been a lot of living.
Asked the difference between the Molumby who made his debut against Finland over two-and-a-half years ago and last Wednesday’s version against Latvia, he said: “Probably night and day, to be honest. When I first came in I probably wasn’t playing regular first-team football.
“I think now with the experience that I have, the games that I’ve played, I feel a lot more comfortable. I believe in myself a lot more.
“It helps playing regularly at club level and I’m at that age now where I feel really comfortable playing for Ireland, I feel confident.”
Josh Cullen will almost certainly be recalled for Monday night’s mega clash with Euro 2024 qualifying opponents France, with Molumby likely to be on his right side and the other midfield berth up for grabs.
Perpetual motion in Ireland’s engine room, Molumby acknowledges that he’s had to use his energy more wisely, and will need to against the French midfield that will have Antoine Griezmann looking to find pockets of space behind enemy lines.
“Absolutely, that’s something I’ve definitely had to work on,” he said.
“I think I’ve come on in leaps and bounds. I’m way more disciplined in my game but you can’t take that out of me or I’d be half the player - but I feel that comes with maturity and I feel like I’m getting there.”
Corberán’s teams play with high energy and intensity. Given his own skill set, Molumby couldn’t have wished for a better club manager.
“He’s been fantastic for us and the football club,” Molumby said of his Corberán.
“And that’s probably why the club gave him a new contract to tie him down because he’s really important and vital for us. For me and Dara [O’Shea], he’s been brilliant as well.
“Obviously he likes players with intensity and high energy. He’s taught me way more about understanding the game and maybe adding different elements to my game. I’ve been getting into the box a lot more, getting a couple more assists, a goal here and there.
“I should probably have a few more goals this season from the areas I’ve been getting into so for me that’s been really good and I’ve been delighted to listen to him to try to continue to improve.”
Molumby doesn’t disguise just how big Monday night’s showdown with the French is in his budding career.
“It will be the biggest game I'll have played in, if I feature. These are the games everyone wants to play in, the ones you dream about as a kid.
“Hopefully the atmosphere is electric which I think it will be. I’m just looking forward to it.”
And there’s also a good chance Ireland’s fearless young midfielder will get the chance to get close to French superstar Kylian Mbappe during Monday’s game.
“He's incredible, there's no other word you can use to describe him,” Molumby said. “An unbelievable player. He has achieved so much so far in his career at such a young age, I am looking forward to playing against him.”
