Omobamidele relishing Mbappe challenge after tough year

The football gods are often fickle and cruel.

In December 2019 Andrew Omobamidele was one of the most impressive young defenders in the Premier League. He was 19, and had just scored his first top-flight goal for Norwich City in the 2-1 defeat to Leeds United.

He'd also made a rip-roaring start to his senior Republic of Ireland career, coming off the bench in Portugal to deliver an incredibly assured debut before following that up with another excellent display against Serbia.

And then, just a couple of weeks before Christmas, he suffered a back injury that would completely derail his momentum. The Leixlip native spent six months wearing a brace doing very little as he patiently rehabbed.

A subsequent ankle problem further disrupted his progress for club and country, but Omobamidele is fit and healthy now, and in the frame to feature in the friendly against Latvia on Wednesday before France come to Dublin for a blockbuster Euro 2024 qualifier the following Monday night.

Heady times indeed, but Omobamidele is not taking anything for granted.

"That was the first time in my whole career that I was out for more than a month."

"It was difficult," he said after linking up with the Ireland squad at the FAI's HQ in Abbotstown.

"I kind of came onto the scene quickly at Norwich and on the international stage, obviously my debut against Portugal and coming back here and playing against Serbia and Azerbaijan and these teams.

"I got a stress fracture in my back and that kept me out for six to seven months. Going from all of those highs in two weeks to the lows where I couldn't do anything... I just had to naturally rest.

"It was tough but happily that's behind me. I've no problems with my back."

After such a serious injury, there was