Lord of the Dance
Player Profile - Jayson Molumby - one of Ireland's most unique footballers
Sport

Player Profile - Jayson Molumby - one of Ireland's most unique footballers

WE DON'T have many players with the skillset Jayson Molumby has.

Jayson Molumby knows exactly what it means to represent Ireland. You can see it every single time he pulls on the green jersey.

He gets it. Every tackle has a bit of bite to it. Every touch has purpose, and every pass is with the intention of trying something.

He is a player we have been crying out for for a long time - perhaps since Roy Keane's exit from the side.

His former Ireland underage boss Tom Mohan said: "The bigger the battle, the bigger the name or the bigger the country we were up against, the more he relished it.

"He wants to be challenged, he’s a real warrior-type midfielder. He’s a real competitor who likes to roll up his sleeves and lead his side into battle"

You don't grow up in Waterford without sport being a pivotal part of your life, and you can see a bit of the Crystal County in the young man whenever he plays.

Chris Hughton, when he was Brighton boss, was determined to get his fellow Irishman into the fray one way or another.

He was getting valuable senior experience when he was still a teenager, before heading on loan for a couple of seasons, with mixed results.

He went to Milwall, where he set the place alight, to the point that they wanted to spend a small fortune to bring him from Brighton. Brighton said no.

This season he headed to Preston, and while he hasn't had the same success there, Brighton still want to keep him around, which says a lot for the young Waterford lad.

Scott McCarthy from WeAreBrighton spoke honestly of Molumby's chances of breaking into the Premier Leauge, saying: "There is every chance Bissouma will be sold this summer for big money and Propper is too good a player to be sitting on the bench as frequently as he has this season, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him leave either.

"Both Millwall and Preston wanted to sign Molumby permanently in January, but Brighton weren't interested.

"They obviously think he has a future at the Amex, and with another six months in the Championship under his belt and a bit of a clearer path to the first team ahead of him there is no reason why he can't be challenging Moder, Alzate and Caicedo for a starting spot next season."

Next season will be a big one for the Waterford lad's development. Another loan to the Championship feels likely, but this time it should be to a side eyeing promotion. Perhaps Sheffield United, who have just been relegated from the Premier League.

Either way, with Molumby's attitude and skillset, we're sure he'll find a way to get where he needs to go. He has done so far.