Jayson Molumby: 'I'm not just some fella running around kicking people'

HAPPY TO BE BACK: Jayson Molumby is happy to be back in Irish camp. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Jayson Molumby’s was the first name on plenty of lips when Heimir Hallgrimsson highlighted the need for his Republic of Ireland team to play with a bit more bite just over a year ago. What he needed, he explained, was a bit of a b*****d in the bunch.

The man himself squirmed in his seat when those words were put to him soon after but, that aside, the impression was that West Brom’s nuggety central midfielder was a few steps ahead in making an impression with the national team’s new boss.

Skip ahead to Abbotstown on Tuesday and Molumby was wearing an Ireland tracksuit for the first time in almost a year, his last involvement with the Republic of Ireland having been a thankless shift in Wembley when losing 5-0 to England.

He wasn’t required for the summer friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg, and Hallgrimsson didn’t see fit to include him last month either when Ireland started the World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Armenia.

"You feel a lot of emotions,” said Molumby, who watched those games back home in Waterford on some unwanted time off. 

“Angry, disappointed. Gutted. A lot of things go through your head. I'm just happy to be back."

The word ‘angry’ had ears twitching, though Molumby warded off the spectre of any unwanted headlines with his very reasonable explanation that every player should be fuming when they aren’t picked.

"I feel I’ve started well this season. Started all the games for West Brom in the league. I feel like I’m in a good place. Obviously I’m playing in the Championship. It’s not the top level. It’s not the Premier League.

“I know what I am as a player, I’m not going to dribble past three players and stick it in the top corner. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I care a lot about playing football and playing for Ireland. I’ll always do my best.

"If that’s not good enough it’s for other people to judge.” 

Judging is exactly what he believes others do. Managers and fans.

That image of him as a terrier snapping at heels is all well and good but he feels he can suffer for this unselfish dogsbody role, and that his commitment on the harrying side can cause him to empty the tank too early.

Molumby doesn’t have any notions of grandeur. He cites passion and workrate first among his main assets but there is a belief with it that he doesn’t get enough credit from various quarters for a technical game that is of a quality required for the international arena.

“I feel I’m good enough on the ball to play at this level, I’m not just some fella running around kicking people. It’s part of my game where I like to be aggressive and add energy to the game. I just believe in myself, I guess.” 

Just turned 26, and entering what is a player’s notional prime, Molumby has been booked 55 times at a rate of once every four games, but only one has come in his ten WBA appearances this term and only twice in all his career has he seen red.

Hallgrimsson has spoken to him in the past about his game and what is needed but there was no phone call when his name was omitted from last month’s squad. As of yesterday, nothing significant in terms of one-on-one communications either.

That’s normal. International camps are rushed affairs, now more than ever, and Hallgrimsson’s wants and needs will become apparent as the week wears on and Saturday night’s daunting tie against Portugal in Lisbon comes closer.

Ireland’s core was rolled up like a can of sardines in Yerevan in September. The thoughts of what a star-studded Portuguese side could do when a side ranked outside the world’s top 100 did that is little short of terrifying.

Talk of Nathan Collins reprising the defensive midfield role he held with some success for 45 minutes in Wembley has been doing the rounds. Hallgrimsson has himself touched on the positives of going with two No.6s in the past.

That, again, would seem to point in Molumby's direction.

“That's what I want. I want to play for Ireland. I think I can be a bit self-critical at times. It's hard to justify myself starting for Ireland when I’ve started many games in the past for Ireland. We haven't won a lot of games so I'm not here to be saying I should be starting for Ireland.

“It hasn't been a successful time since I've been here and I haven't really achieved much personally. I haven't played at a big tournament, I haven't won a big away fixture against a Portugal or France. It's tough. I obviously blame myself but it's hard when you're not getting results and you've been here so long.” 

Honest stuff from an honest player.