O'Brien: 'I am playing consistently in one of Europe’s top leagues so why shouldn’t I be considered?'

REPRESENTING IRELAND IN FRANCE: Lyon's Irish centre-half Jake O'Brien making his mark in France. Pic credit: Lyon.

Boxing and the rush of a ringwalk occupied Jake O’Brien’s early sporting ambition but the stages he’s gracing in football more than match up for prestige.

The Youghal native is Ireland’s sole representative in France, the first to feature in Ligue One for 23 years since Tony Cascarino.