'It was horrible, I didn't feel I had played for my country' - Jayson Molumby

Jayson Molumby fulfilled a life-long ambition when he made his international debut in a UEFA Nations League clash with Finland in September 2020.

A childhood dream, perhaps, a total anti-climax for sure, as Molumby recalls a "horrible" occasion in a soulless stadium with no fans present to witness the fixture.

In fact, the player looks back at those opening games in the green of his nation with a critical eye on his own performances in what was an unstable time in his emerging club career.

Tipped to make a breakthrough with Brighton in the Premier League at the start of the 2020-21 season, which coincided with his Ireland debut, the highly energetic midfielder would eventually go out on loan to Championship side Preston, before moving to West Brom in the summer of 2021.

Not only did Molumby have to contend with club uncertainty at the time, but his arrival into the Ireland squad came at a time of Covid chaos and awful international results under a new regime intent on changing all but the colour of the national shirt.

It would take 11 caps for the Waterford native to finally play in front of Irish fans at Lansdowne Road.

Twelve months on from that home tie against Azerbaijan, when the fans were finally allowed back into the Aviva Stadium, Molumby has made his move to West Brom a permanent one, and it appears to sit well with the player who has appeared to grow into his green Ireland jersey throughout each of his 14 caps to date.

"I'm really looking forward to the two games, absolutely," said Molumby, speaking at Monday's press conference. "I'm buzzing to get going now.

"We've just been waiting, and the last two results were positive, so we're ready to get going again on Saturday.

"Hopefully I can play and contribute to the team.