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Mipo Odubeko on Shels, Haaland lessons and Ireland ambitions

Mipo Odubeko: 'I felt the love from him even before I walked in the door'
Mipo Odubeko: 'I felt the love from him even before I walked in the door'

Mipo Odubeko doesn't need to set an alarm on his phone for the mornings.

Damien Duff is his wake-up call, pinging on Erling Haaland clips to be digested over breakfast.

The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 attacker gave Shelbourne fans a glimpse of what he could bring to the table this season with an excellent showing in last Friday's President's Cup win against Drogheda United.

The Reds beat off plenty of competition to sign Odubeko in December after the ex-West Ham man made the decision to come home in a bid to reignite his career.

In Duff, he might just have the perfect mentor - demanding, empathetic, driven.

"He doesn’t stop," said Odubeko. "Ever since I’ve come in he just makes videos of Haaland and all the top players, the movement... it’s mad because it does help you a lot in the games, you see it in the games and you get in the same positions.

"We talk about everything, about football, little stuff like 'did you watch the game tonight, did you see Haaland's run in behind’, little stuff like that, even before I came to the club. It’s almost like 'why is he speaking to me about that?’ but it just shows how much he cares, how much he loves the game.

"I felt the love from him even before I walked in the door, even before I came here, I met up with him in the UK, we sat down and had a chat. He gave me a real proper chat and told me how things are going and how he wants things to go, and how he sees how they can go.

"Ever since I’ve come in, he’s been brilliant with me for the past four weeks. I can feel someone who really wants me to do well and get the best out of me, I’m really lucky to have someone like that to work with at the moment."

Mipo Odebueko (R) in action against Scott McTominay of Manchester United in 2021

Four years ago Odubeko made his first-team debut for West Ham in an FA Cup defeat of Stockport County. After that game, David Moyes said: "He's a young player we have big hopes for... we like him a lot and will try and bring him along at the right time and when we need him."

Things didn't pan out as everyone hoped at the Hammers. He went on loan to Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, Portuguese side Maritimo and then Fleetwood Town. There was also a year exile from the Republic of Ireland Under-21s as he weighed up his international future (he's also eligible to represent Nigeria).

But Odubeko is clear on his ambitions now.

"100%," he replied on whether he believed Duff can help him to earn a senior call-up.

"I think he will get the best out of me and a lot of people will see that this season.

"I've been in the game for four or five seasons and I've had different managers. It's been difficult but I feel with the gaffer here, I understand him and he understands me. We're very alike as people, very direct.

"I'm the type of person where I need to be told things direct. It's almost difficult because it's the harsh truth and the harsh reality. It's the best way to get anything done so yeah, I really enjoy the way he is. It's good.

"It's been difficult (over the last few years), of course. I've not really had the minutes I feel I deserve for various different reasons but listen, that's football, that's life, things happen. It's nothing for me to be down about. I'm always ready to fight and just keep going because there is no other choice really."

He struck up a very effective partnership with Sean Boyd against the Drogs that had Duff purring. The St Joseph's Boys graduate is so quick, and so strong, that Duff declared it "scary for opposition but exciting for us".

"I aim to keep my standards high always."

Odubeko says he knew what he was getting with Duff before he arrived at Shels. Now he's ready to reward that faith.

"(The manager) was very direct, very honest with me," he added. Very honest about how he feels the past couple of years of my career have gone and how he sees the future to go. He gave it to me direct and it was almost what I needed. I’m very thankful for that

"I have them demands from me daily to be a better player, to come in and train hard and work hard every day and the manager just seconds it, and my team-mates and stuff. I aim to keep my standards high always. It comes from the manager, but it comes from me first to get the best out of me every day."

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