Oct 14,2024
Festy Ebosele is hoping to nail down a place in the Republic of Ireland team after making a game-changing cameo in the UEFA Nations League win over Finland.
First called up by Stephen Kenny, the wing-back made his debut in the 2-0 defeat to France in March 2023 but had only played a combined 13 senior minutes in the green jersey before last Thursday.
He only got 10 more in Helsinki but made the most of them, setting up Robbie Brady for a superb late winner, and being singled out for praise by the traveling supporters.
"I did start off as a winger. So when they told me I was coming on right wing. I just played like a winger.
"My first instinct was just to dribble, get down the line. Then there was space inside and I saw Robbie back post. You would back him to make something of it from there. It was an unbelievable finish.
"I was delighted. Last few minutes, it was a great feeling. I went over with the team and Nathan [Collins, captain] pushed me over. He said 'Go enjoy it'. I did. Helping your team win is a special moment."
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Can he force his way into the starting line-up in Athens today?
"I've been looking forward to my first start for a long time.
"I don't know if I'm going to start. It's the manager's decision, whether I start or come on, I'm just happy to be able to play.
"We said something needed to change. Greece is a very big game as well and we need to try and keep momentum and get another win.
"Hopefully we can do it again."
Ebosele made his senior debut for Derby as an 18-year-old in January 2021.
He played 41 times for the financially embattled Rams before agreeing a five-year deal with Serie A side Udinese in March 2022.
Then-manager Wayne Rooney briefly dropped him after publicly criticising his attitude but the Irishman made it back into the team before the end of a season that ended in relegation.
"There was one [training] session where me and the assistant manager had a little argument," Ebosele explained.
"But that's normal in football. I think it got blown out of proportion."
The Enniscorthy man played 50 times in his first two seasons in Italy and has since been loaned back to Watford, who are owned by the same family as Udinese.
"I love defending and Italy is number one for defending," he said. "So I thought it would be good for me to go over there, and adapt.
"They said 'if you can play in Italy, you can play anywhere'. I wanted a different challenge and thought it was a good move for me.
"It took a few months to get used to but I do love Italy. Different circumstances happen in football and it was an option to come back and play in the Championship for a season.
"There are a lot more games than in Italy, a game every two or three days, but I'm enjoying it."
