Jayson Molumby: 'No more excuses for Ireland now, it's time to kick on'

Molumby was lost for words when told he might be the prime candidate to fill that role of b*****d, but there was a recognition with it that Ireland need to make things uncomfortable for England.

ENFORCER? Jayson Molumby during a Republic of Ireland training session. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Let’s be honest. The list of potential candidates wasn’t exhaustive when new Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Halgrímsson voiced his opinion about the need for “a b*****d” in the national team last month.

The Icelandic boss had surveyed the unfamiliar landscape in front of him and come to the conclusion that too many players were too similar: really good characters, but a collective that leaned towards nice rather than nasty.

The opportunities for putting down ‘markers’ is almost non-existent in the modern game. The famous Roy Keane tackle on Marc Overmars at Lansdowne Road in 2001 is a relic of the past. 

More mortal sins than venal in this non-contact era.

But Halgrímsson’s words gave notice of a switch from the pretty but ineffective passing patterns that had been Stephen Kenny’s Holy Grail and towards a back-to-basics approach that lean more on 'traditional' Irish values.

But who could be this man of steel, this rottweiler let loose at a pampered Crufts?

James McClean was a no-nonsense operator for club and country. 

The instinct to wince remains eight years on from a friendly game at Turner’s Cross in 2016 when he launched into a Belarussian with a tackle that had been signposted on Patrick’s Street.

But now? Jayson Molumby will tell you that he is a very different character off the pitch - and his demeanor in conversation could hardly be more calm and quiet - but the West Bromwich Albion midfielder is a combative, annoying presence on it.

He was lost for words when told he might be the prime candidate to fill that role of b*****d, but there was a recognition with it that Ireland need to make things uncomfortable for England in the Aviva Stadium this Saturday.

‘Yeah, I think so. Obviously playing at home you want to make it as uncomfortable as possible for everyone. The atmosphere itself will do that. As players, as well, that is probably a strength of mine where I try and make it uncomfortable for players.

“I like to get tight to people, leave a bit on people, let them know I‘m there,” he admitted before the Nations League Group B opener. “So, yeah, that’s probably a big part of my game, try and put energy into the game, give the team a lift.” 

Republic of Ireland midfielder Jayson Molumby speaks to the media. Pic: Ryan Byrne/ Inpho

Molumby went further in admitting to a need for the team to “be a bit nastier”. There was more than a touch of that in pre-season when he was charged with violent conduct by the FA following an incident in a pre-season friendly against Mallorca.

The Waterford man appeared to punch Samu Costa in the face approaching half-time of the game soon after being fouled by his Portuguese opponent. He admits now that it probably happened partly out of frustration.

This red mist stemmed from a foot injury suffered at the turn of the year. It left him sidelined for the rest of the 23/24 club season and for all of the four Ireland games that incorporated John O’Shea’s time as interim gaffer.

“It was the build-up of six or seven months before that. A lot of frustration, a lot of anger.

“Obviously I didn’t handle myself the best there, and was probably going through a difficult time. It’s obviously something I’m not proud of but I’m only human as well. I have emotions as well and I can only hold my hands up when I’m wrong.” 

Eight months he went without a game. He doesn’t mince his words about it now. “It was a nightmare, a killer.” 

The injury’s length was reflective of just how bad it was. There were even dark thoughts as to whether he would be back at all.

Was it really that serious?

“Any big injury, you don’t know how it’s going to go, do you? You don’t know if you’re going to get back to the level. You don’t know if it’ll heal properly because that’s always a risk with surgery. Yeah, it was a bit of a worry, but all good now.” 

Those fears weren’t realised.

Molumby has been a key presence lately for West Brom who lie second in the Championship table after four games. There was even a rare goal last Saturday, his 45-minute strike the only difference in their game against Swansea at The Hawthorns.

He is 25 now, a player entering what is accepted as the prime years of a footballer’s career. 

And, with 24 caps, he is one among a number of players to have cut his teeth at international level under Kenny who has bedded in and figured out what is required.

He understands all this. Take away two romps against Gibraltar and the Republic have managed just one win in eleven games. Molumby has no hesitation in admitting that the onus now must turn from competing to winning.

Results are the main currency again.

“There’s no more excuses for us anymore. We were young lads coming in but now we’ve got the experience. It’s not good enough any more to say, ‘Ah, you’re young or whatever, you know’. We’re experienced now at international level. It’s time to kick on for us.”