'Not going to stop until they get there' - World Cup co-hosts friendly increasing Irish hunger to qualify

NEXT TIME: Mason Melia believes their training camp and friendly against co-hosts Canada will drive them on to reach the World Cup. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Mason Melia has been an Ireland international for just a couple of minutes. It was enough. He did French in school and “couldn't tell you a word of it” yet he knows, again, enough.

Enough to find himself sitting in a hotel room in Montreal watching every advertisement on the TV about a World Cup which is now just eight days away and lamenting.

Melia is here in one of the tournament’s three co-host nations savouring an extended first senior camp. But just a little bit of him wonders what might have been. This could have been a camp that extended far beyond Friday’s meeting with Canada — down to Mexico and onwards. Being here has made him already hungry to ensure Ireland’s major tournament absence isn’t extended much longer.

“You know how big it is, because of what's happening here, that gives you more of a push and a buzz,” the 18-year-old said on Wednesday lunchtime.

“Even for the more senior players, I think they'll feel that as well, and obviously they're very unfortunate to miss out, but I think they're not going to stop until they get there.”

Being in Canada marks an end to a campaign of incredible progress. This January Melia finally swapped St. Patrick’s Athletic for Tottenham Hotspur, completing his League of Ireland record transfer. He’s already been elevated to first-team training there. On Thursday night he stood at the halfway line at Lansdowne Road and when Troy Parrott came off, he went on. A first Ireland cap to add to everything else.

"It was only short but very special to have my family and everyone there supporting me as well, so it was nice. It kind of happened real fast, it was just get [stripped] and get ready, that was it,” added Melia. “It was a special moment obviously and even more special that it was in the Aviva.”

Also because the year wasn’t without its downs. Upon arrival at Tottenham an old issue came rushing to the surface. As he shattered League of Ireland records with his absurdly early rise, scoring his first senior goal for Pat’s at 15, his back balked from time to time.

Growth is rarely without its pains. Scans by the medical team at Spurs signalled two stress fractures. His first few months as Premier League player were spent in the treatment and recovery rooms.

Turns out, it did him no harm at all. Melia is heavier, stronger and even taller than when he first crossed the Irish Sea a few months ago. The glow-up wasn’t missed by the League of Ireland contingent brought here by Heimir Hallgrimsson.

“I think I've grown a good bit since I went to Spurs,” he added. “Seeing the people that I played a little bit with, they were like ‘Jesus, you're looking so different’. I've grown a little bit [taller]. I’ve put on more muscle, I'm a bit bigger, wider as well. I'm in a good place at the moment, I'm happy.”

It says much about the utter chaos in the white half of North London that Melia missed the chance to impress two different managers during his recovery. Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor were afterthoughts by the time he was elevated to first-team training. Roberto De Zerbi’s sessions were a hell of a welcome.

“Spurs have been very intense over the last few months. De Zerbi came in and he's been very good for the lads, but very intense training,” said Melia, relieved to still be a Premier League player. “I'm delighted they stayed up. I think clubs never [want to] be in that position, but everyone the last few months could feel the pressure.”

On Friday night he hopes a few more minutes come his way. He’s savoured extended time working alongside Troy Parrott and has impressed. Ireland assistant John O’Shea praised him as “hot stuff” as they swapped spots in the interview chair at the team’s base at the Sheraton.

Having known so much regular football in his young life, he’s keen to keep it rolling. An international debut and another strong impression this weekend would do his hopes of sticking with De Zerbi’s front-liners come pre-season no harm at all.

“I want to be playing first team football again, I’ve said it to the club as well, they know that as well. So it’s just seeing what’s right, what the manager and what everyone at the club wants. At the moment I’m not quite sure, they want me to come in pre-season. So I want to do as well and just show the manager what I can do, and do my best and see what goes from there.”