Callum O'Dowda has heaped praise on Stephen Kenny, regarding the new manager's attention to detail and man management, ahead of Thursday's must-win encounter in Slovakia.
Ireland go to Bratislava on Thursday knowing that victory is needed to maintain their quest to qualify for Euro 2020 next summer, with the winners taking on Northern Ireland or Bosnia next month for a place at the finals.
O’Dowda has recovered from an injury picked up in Ireland’s 1-0 defeat to Finland last month, and having started the new manager’s opening two games in charge, the Bristol City forward is tipped to once again get the nod for the Euro 2020 play-off.
And while the former Oxford United man has only briefly been working under Kenny and his new regime, O’Dowda admitted that it already feels like a lot longer, such is the amount of detail that has been covered in a short space of time.
"I think the gaffer has been brilliant," said O’Dowda. "The attention to detail is probably the best that I have worked under.
"I think it is tough when you go into a new camp to try to get across your philosophy.
"But I have had phone calls with the manager and Zoom meetings and the more and more training sessions that we are having, it’s only going to get better from now, and I think we are even going to be more prepared for this game."
O’Dowda said that players will always love to play for a manager who believes in them and following his selection in the opening game of his tenure, O’Dowda said that he was keen to repay the faith shown in him by Kenny.
"He has shown a lot of faith in me and I wanted to repay that back instantly on the pitch. I just want to do the best I can for him, the country and myself.
"Players thrive when you are wanted by a manager, so with the current manager, he has been brilliant. We have had a few conversations and his man management side has been really good. I can’t say a bad thing about him.
"We haven’t even had a couple of weeks in total but it feels like I have worked with him for a lot longer."
O’Dowda has not featured for his club since picking up that injury in September, however, the attacking midfielder believes that he is fit enough to play going into the Euro play-off.
"I’ve had eight or nine days of full training so I’m feeling fully fit now.
"I don’t think I have lost too much fitness over the last couple of weeks that I was off injured. I’ve maintained my fitness levels and I was out on the pitch early.
"I feel I could be ready if chosen."
O’Dowda offered an insight into the workings of the new manager, who the player believes has hit the ground running making sure that the squad know exactly what is expected of them, while leaving no grey areas ahead of the trip to Slovakia.
"We have done a bit on Slovakia although we are only here 24 hours. We’re well drilled on attacking play, defensively, shape, when to play from the back, starting positions from goal kicks, set pieces. And the attention to detail with set plays, so there are no grey areas.
"We are going to be well drilled and we need a win, whatever it takes, we need to get a win."
O’Dowda emphasised that the manager is not trying to make everyone play the same way and still wants his players to use their individual attributes in match situations.
"A lot of it is 'you are good players, do what you do’. So still having that instinct in the final third.
"The lads have been impressed and I have been impressed with the manager so far."
One thing that will be missing from the venue in Slovakia will be Ireland’s fervent Irish supporters, and O’Dowda recalled the euphoria inside the stadium when Ireland beat Wales in Cardiff during their World Cup qualifying campaign.
"Not having the fans in the stadium, it doesn’t feel the same. The game against Wales when Jimmy McClean scored the goal, it was crazy and it is so hard to replicate that.
"They are the 12th man and the lads know how important it is for the country."
The biggest match of O’Dowda’s career, according to the player who said he can really remember the buzz in the build-up to Euro 2016 when the then Under-21 star made a late bid for inclusion in the squad, but just missed out on Martin O’Neill’s final 23 for France.
"For me, it is probably the biggest [game of my career]. Four years ago I had a chance to go to the Euros and the feeling around the camp then was incredible, and when I came into the setup everyone was so happy.
"Going into the campaign, I wished I was on the plane, although I don’t think I deserved to go anyway, as the squad who went deserved to go.
"So I just wish we can get there again, and for me personally, I’d love to go."
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