Jayson Molumby has the potential to attract interest from Premier League clubs if he continues on his current trajectory and also adds goals to his game according to former Dundalk manager Vinny Perth.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder was impressive during the recent Euro 2024 qualifier defeat to France and has been making an impact at club level for West Bromwich Albion since January.
At the weekend, the Waterford native scored a brace for the Baggies to seal a 2-1 win over Stoke City and has now registered four goals and three assists since the turn of the year.
The result lifted West Brom to within three points of the Championship play-off places which means there is an outside chance that he and Ireland team-mate Dara O'Shea could play Premier League football next season.
But Perth, who had a five-year spell as assistant to Ireland manager Stephen Kenny at Dundalk before taking the top job at Oriel Park in 2019, believes Molumby could even make the top flight independent of the club in the long-term if he can build on his current form.
"If he adds goals to his game, I don't think he'll be long at West Brom, I think a Premier League club will come in for him," he said of the 23-year-old on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast.
"But he's in a good place where he is, playing week in, week out at Championship level and I think he'll end up at a higher level if he continues his growth.
"He's been exceptional and I'm really, really pleased for him because he comes across as a good guy and you'd like him beside you when you head into battle."
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But with his current club still in with a chance of promotion, Perth added: "His form has been exceptional. I wouldn't rule out West Brom having a run at getting into the play-offs. They're three points behind Blackburn in sixth so it's not undoable.
"It would be great for the likes of himself - and obviously Dara O'Shea being injured at the moment - but getting players like that back into the Premier League. It will be an interesting watch to see how they do."
Molumby's importance under Kenny at international level has been clear, being one of the mainstays in the squad.
The France match last month was his 19th cap since making his debut against Finland in September 2020, having been a key player for Kenny in the Under-21s generation before that.
But it's his tenacity that Perth feels is a valuable asset in a modern game where technical ability is often the main attribute sought after.
"What was brilliant about Jayson Molumby that day (against France) was the guts, the sort of rolling up his sleeves, having no fear of who he was marking. 'If you happen to play for Real Madrid, so what, you're getting a kick up the backside off me' and you need that blood and guts and that bit of will to win."
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