O’Dea loving national service

AT the moment, Darren O’Dea is a contented man.

But not as contented, he admits, as his agent. While the fine details were being finalised on a loan move from Celtic to Leeds United, O’Dea claims he was “literally ringing him non-stop” to find out the latest.

But the reason wasn’t quite concern over his stuttering club career.

Rather, unlike so many modern pros, it explicitly was to keep his international career on course.

“I was very worried about it at the start of the season. I was seeing the squad doing fantastically well, top of the group,’’ he said. “Next month will decide whether we qualify. The World Cup draw was made and I want to be part of that.

“Truthfully, I was scared I could be sitting around missing out on something like that. Now I’m a little bit older I realise how much of an honour it is, how special it would be. As a fan you used to see the hype. To be part of that would be very exciting.

“The team is in a good place right now, coming off the back of four wins. I’m desperate to be part of it.

“Sitting around at Celtic would have hampered me. Playing first-team football can only help me.

“I did what I felt I had to do. You’ve got Richard Dunne doing it for God knows how long. Ledge [Sean St Ledger] has come in and done well. That bodes well. The manager has plenty to pick from, to pick the best team he sees for every game. I hope to be part of that. If not, I won’t have too many qualms. But any chance I get I’ll try to take it.”

Despite his own worries, O’Dea himself eased any concerns the Irish management might have had with a composed performance in Macedonia that helped the side to a key 2-0 victory in June.

And he does feel such displays have earned him a certain amount of credit with Giovanni Trapattoni.

“He’s a good manager. Once he trusts you as part of his plans, he keeps you involved. I think he knows he can rely on me.”

But O’Dea still feels he had to maintain that trust with regular football, going on loan to Elland Road as he did last season with Ipswich.

“It’s nothing against Celtic but I was out of the picture a little bit. It’s nice to go somewhere where I’m wanted and play every week, part of the plans.

“I don’t think there are many clubs with the expectation level of Celtic. But one of them is Leeds. I enjoy that part. We’re expected to win with a bit of style.

“It’s a fantastic move, a fantastic club. Okay it didn’t start great [with a 3-1 defeat to Southampton] but there are plenty of games to go in the season.”

O’Dea also feels the Championship is a better launch pad than the Scottish Premier league.

“It’s on a more even keel. Look at Jay Bothroyd. He was capped by England playing in the Championship. Shane Long is going for a lot of money. The quality is close enough. There are probably a better standard of centre-forwards in the Championship than the SPL. That’s no disrespect. A lot come from the SPL and it produces some very good players.

“But the Championship is one of those leagues where you can be top by 10 points then play the bottom team and get turned over. You can win 2-0 and not be comfortable. For any player it’s a fantastic challenge, a great league to be a part of. If you’re not on your game, you can get done. If you’re at your best, you can beat most teams.

“Playing for Celtic doesn’t really compare. You’re literally expected to win every game. You play at Celtic Park sometimes and you’re expected to put 40 passes together before scoring.

“At the back at Celtic you get isolated. There’s not that much pressure when you do defend. At times, it’s just sweeping up before another attack whereas in the Championship it’s backs against the wall for 50 or 60 minutes.”

Which brings O’Dea to another issue: his best defensive position.

“I don’t know. I’ve said a million times I think I’ll progress as a centre-half.

“I’ve no problem at left-back because I’ve played 30 games there for Celtic. But I wouldn’t say it’s my best position.

“There are two sides to it. You can get into the team being versatile, not nailing yourself to a position but I see myself progressing and nailing a position. I just want to play at the highest level, and don’t care where.”

So long as, eventually, it’s in a World Cup for Ireland, that is.