Will Smallbone: 'Whatever way the manager wants me to play, I’ll be happy to play'
WILLING AND ABLE: Will Smallbone during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Will Smallbone insists he has the tools to muck in and embrace Heimir Hallgrimsson’s back-to-basics approach with Ireland.
As Ireland’s sole Premier League midfielder in the squad, it’s increasingly likely the 24-year-old will harness the engine-room against his homeland.
His mother Mary’s Kilkenny roots ensured there was nothing for Ireland to fear when it came to commitment and the Southampton playmaker will hit double-figure caps in the Uefa Nations League opener.
Considering the new boss has cited the lack of a “bastard” as a shortcoming of the Ireland team he inherited, Smallbone’s reputation as a neat, dainty performer doesn’t smack of a profile match.
He demurred at such a stereotype, adamant he’s capable of immersing himself into the thick of battle.
Saturday’s derby – featuring a subplot of local villain Declan Rice touted to dictate the England pace – will demand the grittier side of Smallbone’s repertoire to shine.
“Just because I’ve played in passing teams before doesn't mean I’ll play in them forever,” points out the Saints gem.
“Whatever way the manager wants me to play, I’ll be happy to play. We weren’t necessarily a massive passing team at Stoke City and I still played some of my best football there.”
His companion for press duties, John O’Shea, was positioned to concur with a smile, for he was assistant to both Michael O’Neill and his successor Alex Neil when his compatriot arrived on loan for the 2022/23 season.
He returned to spearhead Southampton’s immediate top-flight return, keeping his place in the side, albeit being sacrificed at the interval of Saturday’s defeat at Brentford.
This will be the first occasion Smallbone has faced England at any level since declaring for Ireland in his teens and there’ll be no fear of emotion being a distraction.
“I just want to win the game,” he claimed.
“I’ve been in the Irish set-up for quite some time and my full focus growing up has been always to play for Ireland.
“I look it as a good game against a team that got to the European final recently. But I want to put down a marker personally - and for us as a nation – by getting a big result.”
One Irishman, at least, would be left floored by that outcome. Lee Carsley is the rising star of the English coaching circuit and Smallbone has teammates to validate the ex-Ireland midfielder’s credentials.
“Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Adam Lallana both worked with him very closely for England’s U21s,” revealed the Basingstoke native.
“I spoke to both of them over the last few weeks and they’ve only had good things to say about him.
“Taylor was his captain when they won the European Championships so he’s obviously got a biased view on him. He said he’s improved his game a lot but their manager have different ways of playing than he did with Taylor.”
Any insider secrets on the tactician, nowadays behind enemy lines to Ireland? “No, they didn't give much away.”
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