IT’S QUITE THE understatement to say a few things have changed since Stephen Gleeson last featured for Ireland.
Back in the summer of 2007, the then 18-year-old Wolves midfielder was one of a rake of uncapped players brought to the US by manager Steve Staunton for an end-of-season tour.
Along with the likes of Alan Bennett, Joe Gamble, Joe O’Cearuill, Stephen O’Halloran and the infamous Joe Lapira, Gleeson made his senior debut for the Boys in Green in the 1-1 draw with Ecuador at the Giants Stadium before his second appearance two days later against Bolivia.
But while that group of players will never get the opportunity to line out for the Boys in Green again, the Dubliner, now 27, is aiming to earn a third cap this week after a nine-year absence.
After a series of loan spells, his time at Wolves ended in 2009 with a move to League One side MK Dons. There, he established himself in the team — playing 174 times in five seasons under Roberto Di Matteo, Paul Ince and Karl Robinson.
A switch to Birmingham City followed in the summer of 2014 and and the former Cherry Orchard schoolboy has been a regular in the Blues midfield ever since.
It’s been a long road back to international football and a more rounded and mature Gleeson is determined to make the most of it this time around.
“It’s amazing to be back in squad, especially so close to a big tournament,” he said at the FAI’s National Training Centre today. “It’s good to be involved again after such a long time.
“Anything after this week’s training will be a bonus and if I can get onto that pitch it will be great.
I never stopped believing in myself, even dropping down the leagues. I knew I had the ability to one day get back here. I think it’s eight or nine years since my last cap and I think I’ve been playing well at my club over the last eight months.
“The last time I didn’t take it all in. I was probably a bit young and overawed. Coming in here I have the belief I belong in this squad and I have the ability to give something to this squad.
“I’m taking a lot more in this time and I’ve definitely taken a lot more experience from the first time.
“I don’t think I had played that many league games. I didn’t take everything in or play to my best ability. I’m coming in this time and I’ve played in the Championship consistently and done well. I’m definitely a better player now.”
Familiar with many of the current crop through his time in Ireland underage teams, Gleeson can also call upon a cousin for advice as he’s related to Stoke City midfielder Glenn Whelan.
“There’s a lot of lads who I played in the U21s with here as well but to have a family member to congratulate you when you’ve been named in a squad is really good,” he added.
“He’s quite established in it and has done really well over the years. If I have any doubts I can go to him and other players as well so it’s good to see.
“He’s got a lot of caps and has played under the last two or three managers so if I need that advice I know where to go.”
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Highly doubt a guy of 27 years of age in a position like outhalf will make any huge addition to the ulster team when he has never played a game in the top division of any league. Surely they’ve an academy outhalf that they’d be better off promoting to the senior panel?
The problem is highlighted by the number of Ulster Youth in the Irish representative teams. 5 in the schools and 0 in the youth. Ulster rugby do not match their aspirations with investment in youth rugby to ‘find’ players such as Tagdh Furlong and SOB. Would rather see the IRFU go further by requiring the provinces to match their investments in foreign players with the same amounts in youth rugby.
I wouldn’t think much of junior team numbers really, of the irish u-19 team that won the world championship, how many can you name? it’s a professional sport and the brutal fact is a lot of those guys won’t break through from underage teams, they need to be a prodigious talent like Bo’D or the colossus that is Donncha O’Callaghan.
He’s played in the NRC. He’ll be fine for the pro 12.
The point of junior teams is to feed senior teams. Without the numbers at junior level there is nothing to come through at senior level. Case in point Munster.
Realistically though Christy, Munster have never had a significant presence in underage teams. I don’t put much stock in u-20 numbers as representative of the talent coming through provinces, mostly because arguably the two best players in this years championship, Zach McCall and Stephen Fitzgerald, came from the two least represented provinces. It’s quality not quantity basically. I’d be much happier to get one Jack O’Donoghue rather than a bunch of lads that’ll never play beyond the AIL, as we see in Leinster.
I’d imagine that the only thing He needs to do to be a permanent starter at 10 for ulster is not miss in front of the posts.
If you want to be trolling Ulster better try the Uafc forum where they might be interested.
I didn’t mean to troll, really, but if Kelly Haimona is the only pro12 kicker with a worse percentage than jackson, you desperately need backup for Pienaar.
Where are you getting your statistics from Eoghan. I assume you are making no allowance for Jackson suffering a bad back injury at the end of last season and being injured for a good part of this season. He has hardly kicked at all.
http://www.pro12rugby.com, look for the longlist of golden boot contenders. You know kicking percentage doesn’t get affected by the number of games he’s played in the season, only the number of kicks he’s hit/missed? Or are you thinking that his injury hampered his more recent performances? never assume. Realistically though when was the last time you saw a senior, capped international miss a kick in front of the post?
I’m talking about literally in front of the posts about ten yards out but thanks for your input as always Quinner.
Again Quinner, Madigan’s kick wasn’t directly in front of the post, ten yards out. He’s on the shortlist actually.