Updated 1 hour ago
MICHAEL OBAFEMI’S RISE in an Irish shirt continues, and the strength of the young striker’s bond with his international coach has become a little clearer during this international window.
Long before the 22-year-old produced another magical moment with a long-range goal outside the South Stand of Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night, Stephen Kenny was keen to fight for his player.
The Irish boss could have easily dismissed questions regarding Obafemi’s club situation ahead of the final two games of this Nations League campaign.
Instead, he met head-on with comments from Swansea City head coach Russell Martin that the striker was ‘not in the right frame of mind’ to get more involved after Burnley’s attempts on transfer deadline day to sign him were rebuffed.
Obafemi celebrates his goal against Armenia.
Credit: James Crombie/INPHO
“I spoke to Michael and like everything else, there are two or three sides to every story. Michael certainly wants to play football, he wants to play for Swansea,” Kenny said when announcing his squad.
It’s just one of those things, I’m sure he’ll be back playing soon. We are delighted to have it.
Martin responded by insisting he was “disappointed” with Kenny’s comments, but the support was appreciated by Obafemi.
“Yeah, I don’t really need to go into too much detail, but I’m grateful that he (Kenny) had my back. I’m here and I did well and that’s the main thing.
“I’m glad he said what he said but, ultimately, it’s in the past now and we have to move on. I just play the way I play and I’m glad I was able to score the aim [against Armenia] and be back full of confidence.
“Stephen trusted me and played me back to back, and I’m just grateful that I was able to reward him with a goal.
Kenny with Obafemi.
Credit: James Crombie/INPHO
“I mean obviously I haven’t played recently. So it was fantastic to come here and rack up the minutes and score a goal to top it all off.
Obafemi came off the bench for the final two minutes of Swansea’s 3-0 win over Hull City in the final game before ending up in Dublin – the crowd’s somewhat lukewarm welcome to his substitution was nothing which he wanted to be drawn to.
“Uh, interesting. Obviously I’m a Swansea player and I’m happy there, but the main thing is to start playing again. And that’s really all.
Whether he will return to the starting XI at West Bromwich Albion this Saturday remains to be seen – and a reunion with international team-mates Dara O’Shea and Jayson Molumby – and he feels his goalscoring form for Ireland can only be a guaranteed to play. unless he does it for his club.
Yeah, 100 percent. We are all fighting for places. We have the best attackers. callum [Robinson]Scott [Hogan]Troy [Parrott]Chieo [Ogbene] so no one really belongs.
“It’s just that I have confidence in myself and I try to keep my place, that’s the main thing.”
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Reflecting Tuesday night’s haphazard 3-2 win, Obafemi admitted lessons had to be learned, while on the Nations League campaign as a whole he is already eyeing the draw for next month’s European Championships .
“Hectic [against Armenia]. Um, I felt like we had a good first 60 minutes and then we got a little complacent, sloppy, and that’s when they scored their two goals. Thanks to Robby [Brady] we got the three points.
Swansea City boss Russell Martin.
Source: AP
“We’re disappointed with the two goals but, in the end, we kept League B going so we’re looking forward to the draw and going from there.”
As marks go, Obafemi’s penchant for long-range howlers is
“Just instinct. As a striker, take the touch off your feet and kick it. And yeah, it got in, that’s the main thing.
#grateful #supported #me…Im #glad
