Jeff Hendrick modestly describes September as a good month in his life – but it was undoubtedly another big step forward in a career on an upward curve.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed rapid progression with a breakthrough performance at Euro 2016 that led to him becoming a £10m Premier League player with Burnley.
Injuries took their toll in a topsy-turvy time at Derby County last season and at one point there was a brief fear he would miss out on the great occasions in Paris, Bordeaux, Lille and Lyon that lit up the summer back home.
But he returned in time for the play-offs with Derby after overcoming a thigh problem, and it allowed him to get into the right place for the tournament.
“Before the European Championships, I had a bit of an injury, I was out for a while when I was just getting a good run of games at Derby for the first time in the season," Hendrick told RTÉ’s soccer correspondent Tony O’Donoghue in an interview to be screened ahead of tonight’s live coverage on RTÉ2.
“It was a bit of frustrating year for me and then finally when I was starting to play and enjoy my football again, to get that injury was hard to take.
“I was told I could be out for longer than I actually was and I didn't know how I would be, fitness wise, for the Euros and then you get doubt in your mind thinking, 'will I be ready for it or not?'.
“Thankfully I was back in good enough time to get the training in and get the fitness and then to play the games and enjoy every moment, especially the first games and the atmosphere, just stepping out onto the pitch. It gave me a real big confidence [boost] and I just went on from there.”
It was not just physically that it all came right for Hendrick – mentally he feels in a stronger place than before, with the help of a sports psychologist at the Championship club the catalyst. It has clearly been a factor in the development of his game and the influence he has on matches.
“I sat down with him on my own a few times and he just gave me some key things to think about going into games to make sure I'm mentally prepared for everything," he said.
“For me, I think it's helped and I have tried to carry that on now in every game I play.”
Working with Martin O’Neill has also had a positive impact on the Dubliner, with Hendrick saying that O’Neill “fills him with confidence” for each match.
It is a ringing endorsement by Hendrick of his international manager and he adds: “When I go out on to the pitch I try and repay that and play as well as possible.”
His new manager at the club level, Sean Dyche, is also likely to help Hendrick add to his game. Indeed he already feels fitter after just a month in a new environment with the Clarets.
Dyche repeatedly said he would not spend Burnley’s transfers funds willy-nilly, despite the vast riches they secured on a return to the Premier League.
To break their transfer record for the second time in the summer window spoke volumes of the faith put in Hendrick to link up with Steven Defour in the club's efforts to stave off the drop.
Moving clubs is part and parcel of football but it was a first switch in England for Hendrick after eight years in the midlands.
He joined Derby at 16 from his schoolboy club, St Kevin's, in Dublin, and clearly there was some trepidation in his mind, but many factors have helped him find his feet with the Lancashire club.
“It's something very different for me. I have not moved clubs in eight years since I was leaving St Kevin’s to go to Derby.
“It was going to be interesting for me to see how I get on but I've fitted in fine. The lads have really helped me settle in. It's a great group there. The training has been perfect. It has helped me get a lot fitter.
"I have been enjoying it. I have been at a hotel the last few weeks so it has been room service.
“It's not bad but it's hard when you're trying to keep on top of what you're eating and sometimes you get a little dessert when you shouldn't, but it's nice.
“Wardy [Stephen Ward] has helped me a lot. I've gone around his house, I was watching the Dublin game and the golf with him last week. It's been great. It gives me something to do outside of football. I have got a few friends in the area. I have met up with them a few times and I have kept myself busy so it has been fine.”
Prior to the match with Serbia, Hendrick fielded a question in the pre-match press conference on the lack of goals in his game for Ireland and bluntly admitted it was something he has been lacking and would try to address.
Within 24 hours, he had his first goal for Ireland. On his fourth game for Burnley, he scored the opener on the way to a 2-0 win over Watford.
“I was in the box [for the goal against Watford]. Some people might question why I was in the box - a lot of people were saying it was probably my first header; it wasn't but it was probably the furthest one out... which is only six yards!
“It's great to get the goal. I have said this year I want to try and score a good few goals with Burnley and play as many games as possible. To get my first goal early definitely is great for me and gives me a bit of confidence and now I have to build on that and carry it on.
“I did the interviews the day before [the Serbia game] and it was mentioned to me that I needed to add goals and I agreed. I need to score more goals and it's something I am working on. I said it'd be something I'd try in that game and get off the mark and thankfully I did.
“The main thing was to get that crucial point, especially with going 2-1 down and having a disallowed goal. 'Big Murph' popped up and got his first goal as well which was great.”
At 24, Hendrick has many good memories in an Ireland jersey. He recalls the win over Italy as the highlight of his career so far and lists the positives of the scenario of “needing the win, the closed roof, the atmosphere, unbelievable” as if the experience was yesterday.
It is only a matter of months ago but Ireland quickly find themselves in another battle to get to the big stage and the highs of France will not help them this week.
One of the toughest qualifying games to get there was the draw in Germany.
When the campaign for the Euros started, Hendrick missed the opening game against Georgia. He started the game against Gibraltar and came on as a sub on another famous night in Gelsenkirchen when John O’Shea helped claim another a point few scarcely believed possible.
“The lads that started the game worked so well. It's tough when you play teams like that. They keep the ball and you have to make sure that everyone is defending together, moving together and you don't give them too much space.
“When you get your chances you have to take them. We were 1-0 down and backs to the wall from the first half and a bit of the second half. I think once they scored, and it was getting later, then we started to push on a little bit more and put a bit more pressure on them and got balls in the box.
“We got the goal we needed again. We scored a lot of late goals throughout the qualifiers and hopefully if needed we can do the same again.”
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Such mammoth challenges are not present in this week’s opposition as Georgia and Moldova await within three days, with the long trip to Chisinau to come after Thursday’s clash in Dublin. With an injury-hit squad, the task has become much more tricky.
Many have spoken of the dangers Georgia will pose, and it's a view Hendrick shares.
“You saw it in the last qualifiers - we found it tough in both games against them. Other countries played against them and found it tough. They are no pushovers. No team really is. It's going to be another difficult game and we have to make sure we are right mentally, physically and start the game well.
“It is a quick turnaround of Thursday and Sunday. There's not much time for rest but we have to make sure we're ready. We have enough players in the squad that can come in and do jobs.
“We can't really look too far ahead. We have to focus on the game on Thursday and make sure we are right.”
One comfort to Ireland fans is Hendrick has repeated the same ambition he had prior to the opening qualifier – to find the net.
“Hopefully I can carry on and start this month off with another goal. That is something I'd love to do and something I will try to do.”
Let’s hope the trick will work again.
Watch more of this interview on Republic of Ireland v Georgia, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm.
