It was no surprise when the uncapped Jake O’Brien was named in the Ireland squad for the upcoming internationals against Belgium and Switzerland.
The young Cork defender is having a remarkable maiden season playing for Lyon in the French top flight, Ligue 1, and things are going from strength to strength for O’Brien who bagged the matchwinner in a come-from-behind five-goal thriller away to Toulouse on Friday night.
O’Brien has spent the last three years on the books of Crystal Palace, having signed from Cork City, and while unable to break into the first team in the Premier League, he gained valuable experience at Swindon first, before making another loan move to Belgian side RWD Molenbeek last season.
Returning to his parent club last summer following the successful stint in Belgium, O’Brien was not long in London but rather returned to the continent, this time on a permanent deal to Olympique Lyonnais.
A slow, steady start was expected for the emerging Irish defender, however, as the team slumped to an awful opening to the campaign, O’Brien worked his way into the first XI and proved instrumental as things started to change for the better for the team based at the foothills of the Alps.
In fact, Lyon won their first league game of the current season at the 11th time of asking, as they went away to Rennes on 12 November – the campaign started on 13 August – and won 1-0.
O’Brien became an instant hero as he scored the vital goal that began the slow and steady rise up the rankings to their current position, a lofty tenth place, well clear of the relegation zone.
And as the club game prepared for the first international break of the new year, the 22-year-old received a timely phone call making sure that he did not book any holidays.
Interim manager John O’Shea had hinted as much when first announced, stating that he had to watch some of the Irish players in France and beyond.
Sure enough, O’Brien got a call a week before he was officially named in the squad and having worked with O’Shea previously with the Ireland Under-21s, the defender said that he was hoping for, but not necessarily expecting, it.
"It's been a great week, getting the call and scoring the goal," said O’Brien, speaking to the media on Tuesday.
"I was more hoping, I think. I knew I was having a good season, but you never know with these things. It's down to the manager, but when he called me to say I was in the squad, it was a proud moment and exciting moment.
"I got a phone call about a week before the squad just saying that he was naming the squad and that I could be in it, and to not book any holidays during the break."
By his own admission, O’Brien was a late developer in the game and remarkably only received Ireland recognition at U21 level. However, the belief that he could play for his country always existed and he felt that it all started to come together while at Turner’s Cross, which led to the initial Crystal Palace loan move before signing full-time.
"I wasn't as physically developed enough to compete with these players," said O’Brien, when asked about his lack of underage caps. "It was only 16, 17 things started coming for me in terms of physicality. When I was at Cork City it was about putting it together, physicality with developing and before going over to England.
"Ever since I was young, I always believed I could play for Ireland. It was more about patience and taking the opportunity when it came.
"Everyone develops at different stages and for me it was a later stage to other players, but I always believed in myself."
While O’Brien played under O’Shea at U21 level, he can also look to another member of the new-look Ireland management unit for support, as he was coached by Paddy McCarthy at Palace.
McCarthy was drafted in as part of the O’Shea ticket for the March double-header and O’Brien knows that he can ask for advice should he need it during the international window.
"I've known Paddy a good while and he was my coach at Palace academy," said O’Brien.
"We know each other well. He knows what he gets out of me, and I know what I get out of him. It's good to have Paddy around to lean on and ask for advice."
One thing that may have scuppered O’Brien’s chances of breaking into the squad is the sheer abundance of quality that Ireland currently possess in the centre of defence, with Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea and Andrew Omobamidele all playing regularly in the Premier League, while Liam Scales has recently moved right up the pecking order for both club – Celtic – and country.
Scales, however, has had to pull out of the squad due to injury, which means that O’Brien has a great chance of making his senior debut against Belgium on Saturday or Switzerland on Tuesday.
He is ready to take on the challenge, and is looking forward to testing himself in esteemed company during the week-long build-up.
"We have good players in my position and throughout the squad, but especially my position," he said.
"I think for me, I'm coming here to train hard and prove what I'm like. For me it's to up the levels and train with these players, to enjoy it really and see."
Whatever happens over the course of the two games, O’Brien will return to Lyon and continue his progression, continuing to learn his trade in one of Europe’s top leagues, while also playing alongside Dejan Lovren, who enjoyed Champions League and Premier League success while playing for Liverpool.
"It was a big game," said O’Brien, when asked about scoring that vital first goal for the club.
"It was important for me to win the fans over. Maybe it was a turning point of the season as it was important to get first win of the season, that 1-0 win in Rennes. But I think it was more since the Christmas break that things turned around for us."
"First and foremost, he’s a good person to talk to," he added, regarding former Croatia international Lovren.
"On the pitch he’s done it all, he’s a Champion League winner. I take bits away from his game, and in training. Not just him but there are others as well that have won big trophies. I learn off them on and off the pitch. It’s good to play with these players."
O’Brien is also busy learning the local language and sees a future in France, where he is enjoying life both on and off the pitch.
"It's a lovely city, I think there's no better place in France to live," said O’Brien.
"It’s a very historical, big club in France. The fans and facilities are amazing. You’re training with the top players in the world. It’s better to be there and develop.
"In terms of learning the language, it's slowly coming along. I can understand a lot but it's a lot more difficult to speak it. With time it will come."
Follow a live blog on Republic of Ireland v Belgium this Saturday from 5pm on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
