Galway has some talented footballing families and it is a measure of one that Ryan Manning reckons brother Ronan is a better player.
Ryan has starred for Swansea City in the Championship of late, scoring a screamer to beat Preston before shackling Charlie Austin in a scoreless draw at QPR. Yesterday he played 90 minutes in the 2-0 away defeat to Hull City. Ronan has barely played in over a year since joining John Caulfield's Galway United in the League of Ireland First Division, having suffered a cruciate ligament knee injury at training in May.
One is desperate to play for Ireland; the other is desperate to play. "At least he's fully training again," the elder brother, 25, tells RTE Sport from South Wales.
"I speak to him every day, playing Playstation together. I haven’t seen as much of him as on previous international breaks, as I’ve been involved with Ireland. I think there are similarities but football-wise, as much as I wouldn't like to say it, he's the better one of the two. Talent-wise he had all the tricks and all the touches but he's been very, very unlucky with injuries."
Manning’s return to Loftus Road on Tuesday provided a rare opportunity for Irish fans to see a player who left Galway as a number ten but is now revelling at left-center-back in a Swansea side that is belatedly hitting form after a Christmas slump. His exit from London was not especially amicable but the local fans’ ire – and that of Charlie Austin – may have had more to do with how well Manning was playing.
"My performance on Tuesday goes back to the staff. The way they coach to defend is a little bit different to what you were taught growing up or over the years. A lot of the stuff we do is to frustrate the people we are playing against. Charlie got a bit frustrated but as long as we kept a clean sheet it gave us a chance to win the game and we could have nicked it had Michael (Obafemi) not crept offside at the end."
With Cyrus Christie also a mainstay for Swans, there’s ample Irish interest, but Obafemi has struggled to impress Stephen Kenny, Christie has lots of competition at right-wing back and Manning may actually be hindering his Irish chance because of where he is playing. He sees it differently.
"With the way we play and dominate the football, 60 to 70% possession in some games, my position is similar to a left-back. You see so much of the ball. This season I've had more touches than I have ever had in my whole career.
"I really enjoy the build-up play. Being a number 10 in the past has stood to me. The management here are unbelievable, top-quality. Any tips or coaching you need they are on you and helping you out, to become the best you can be."
Coach Russell Martin spoke of Manning’s character and how much improvement, even at 25, he still has in him. Martin wants Swansea to pass teams to death and, as such, sees it as beneficial to have a defender who used to be an attacker.
"I went to QPR as a number 10. After a while I thought I would have a better chance percentage-wise if I played as a midfielder. Gradually I moved back into midfield. In my last season at QPR the left-back we'd signed got injured in pre-season. I started the season there and probably had my best season over in England that season: five goals and seven assists from left back, playing 45-odd games or something.
"I stayed there and signed for Swansea as a left-wing-back. When the new manager came, his style is total football; although I am playing left-centre-back, you are not a conventional left-centre-half. You might as well be a midfielder much of the time."
Manning says his defensive duties were "tough at the start, doing stuff that was alien to me," but he looked something of a natural at Loftus Road, and he was working his way into Stephen Kenny’s plans last year only to get injured prior to the victory in Azerbaijan.
Manning still has to prove he can cut it for Ireland as his debut in one of those forgettable behind-closed-doors games – the 0-0 draw in November 2020 – was not exactly auspicious.
"In hindsight, that was a tough time to come in to. I hadn't really been playing at QPR, I had just signed for Swansea. As much as you try to keep fit, if you are not playing games it's hard to have that match sharpness that games will give you.
"It was a tough ask having not played 90 minutes. I was thrown in. I didn't do anything crazy in the game. I just have to wait for opportunities to come up again. I think I will be in a better position to make the most of it and grab it with both hands.
"Ireland for me is a massive ambition. With the way Ireland are playing at the moment, the results we are picking up, you want to be part of it. We finished the World Cup campaign quite strongly. If that campaign came up now we'd be in a lot better position to make a go of it.
"You'd think it all goes in my favour for upcoming squads"
"There were some poor performances and results but there were positive ones like Portugal away. We were five minutes off one of Ireland's biggest results ever. With a young team, a lot of people making their debuts, getting the first caps, you can come away from it as a positive campaign. I want to be part of that and play in a major tournament with Ireland."
Manning also feels he can translate seamlessly to a Stephen Kenny system, even if he no longer plays left-wing-back, the position Kenny had been considering him for last year.
"I think the philosophy at Swansea is quite similar to the way he wants to play: the same formation, a similar style of football, wanting to pass the ball. You'd think it all goes in my favour for upcoming squads.
"Anthony Barry and Keith Andrews are really top-quality coaches. Anthony being at Chelsea and the experience of working with some of the best players around the world, you can see that in his coaching style and why it's there. Working with them has been brilliant and you learn so much in the short time you are there on playing style and playing philosophies. It's a really good experience when you are away."
Four Horgan brothers have played in the League of Ireland, Daryl making a big impression for Ireland, whilst Aaron Connolly’s brother Ethan has already made the Galway United bench. Ryan Manning is convinced he has more to give.
"When the next chance comes around with Ireland I can make the most of it."
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