"Angry, disappointed, gutted"; Jayson Molumby wears his heart on his sleeve when he pulls on the green Ireland jersey, and the emotion is just as evident when talking about the national team.
The Waterford native was not selected for the September games, however, the tough-tackling midfielder is back in Heimier Hallgrimsson's squad for the upcoming games against Portugal and Armenia.
Some might say that Molumby dodged a bullet with the exclusion, considering the team only managed to pick up one point out of six, but the West Brom man admitted that it was just as painful watching the defeat in Yerevan at home on television.
Molumby’s return to the squad comes with it a very good chance that he will be asked to play a role against Portugal in the absence of the injured Jason Knight, and the midfielder is hoping that he gets the chance to impress and prove people wrong.
Confidence in his own ability remains evident, and Molumby believes that he possesses the quality for the international stage, however, the former Brighton man feels that he is often misrepresented in the opinions of others.
"It was really tough for me," said the 26-year-old, when asked how he felt when he was left out of the previous squad. "Gutted to not be called up for your country.
"Watching the game, I'd a few days off, went home to see my family in Waterford, and it was hard to watch. Really tough to watch.
"You feel a lot of emotions. Angry, disappointed, gutted. A lot of things go through your head. I am just happy to be back.
"It’s a tough one," he responded, when asked why he was angry about missing out. "As a player, I feel you should always want to be in the squad, you should back yourself. I believe I should be here. If you don't back yourself, you will struggle."
The anger does not appear to have been aimed directly at the manager, and while he was not offered an explanation for the exclusion, he assumed that the management were concentrating on working with those included.
"I didn't really get a reason," he explained. "There are, however, many lads to pick from. I am sure they were focused on the players they had selected, their communication was probably more leaned towards focusing on the group. I wasn't in it."
Molumby emphatically believes that he should be in the squad, and hopes that his recall ends up with minutes on the pitch, yet he readily admits that he cannot back that up based on the results of the team since making his international debut under Stephen Kenny back in 2020.
"Hopefully, that's what I want," he responded about the potential of being asked to play one of the number six roles.
"I want to play for Ireland. I think I can be a bit self-critical at times. It's hard to justify myself starting for Ireland; when I have started many games in the past, we haven't won a lot of games so I'm not here to be saying I should be starting for Ireland.
"It hasn't been a successful time since I've been here, and I haven't really achieved much personally.
"I haven't played at a big tournament, I haven't won a big away fixture against a Portugal or France. It's tough. I obviously blame myself, but it's hard when you're not getting results and you've been here so long."
The formbook would suggest that Molumby may not be notching up that big away win in Lisbon, as Ireland go face to face with the group favourites and number one seeds. However, when it comes to playing in these big games, he is aware that he must maintain the same approach to his hectic schedule in the English Championship.
"It's really hard, jumping up levels from playing in the Championship and going to play against Portugal with world class players and some of the best players in the world," he said.
"It's a massive jump but you have to prepare like any other game. There isn't added incentive there because it's always the same when you're playing for your country.
"For me, I try to stay the same as I do for every game and try to compete. It's hard to regulate your emotions at times because you care a lot, you care about playing for Ireland.
"You have to give everything, that's the minimum, doing as much as you can."
As for the naysayers, Molumby pointed to the fact that he is far from a headless chicken, racing around the pitch "kicking people", and pointed out the fact that he has only received two red cards throughout a career that has already surpassed the 200-game mark.
And he is happy to continue to let his football do the talking, while continuing to help push West Brom back towards the top flight in the ultra-competitive second tier of English football.
"I feel I have started well this season. Started all the games for West Brom in the league. I feel like I am in a good place.
"Obviously, I am playing in the Championship. It is not the top level. It is not the Premier League. But I know what I am as a player, I am not going to dribble past three players and stick it in the top corner. I know my strengths and weaknesses.
"I care a lot about playing football and playing for Ireland. I will always do my best. If that is not good enough it is for other people to judge.
"I feel I don't get enough credit for my technical ability. I am not overly technical, I am not unbelievable on the ball, but I can manage myself and I am good enough to play on the ball at this level. Hundred per cent.
"It's part of my game where I like to be aggressive and add energy to the game. I’m not just some fella running around kicking people."
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