Omobamidele Cast In Doubt For Ireland Debut Versus Portugal

Norwich City of England defender, Andrew Omobamidele has been cast in doubt for his much-expected senior debut with Republic of Ireland due to injury, e360hubs.com reports.

Heading into Thursday’s World Cup qualifier, Ireland’s preparation for the game at their home ground, Aviva Stadium, has been hampered by an injury copped by the 19-year-old stopper last weekend.

Such is Ireland’s plight, as Omobamidele reported with an Achilles injury that he suffered during Norwich’s 2-1 victory away to Frank Onyeka’s Brentford Town in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Omobamidele likely absence for the game against Cristiano Ronaldo’s side has added a double-blow for Ireland’s coach, Stephen Kenny, as he has already ruled out midfielder Jayson Molumby.

Kenny said: “We’ll have a fitness check on Andrew Omobamidele, who got a kick in his Achilles in the Norwich game at the weekend.

“It’s been sore and we’ll have to see how he is. We’ll have to wait and see. I can’t say I’m optimistic. We’ll wait and see how he is.”

This devlopment comes after the youngter beamed with delight in a chat with OTB AM at the launch of the INTERSPORT Elverys FAI Summer Soccer Schools programme.

It came after a whirlwind few weeks that saw the defender called up to Stephen Kenny’s Republic of Ireland squad.

The Norwich hiz-kid impressed in the second half of the season as Daniel Farke’s side earned promotion to the EPL.

He disclosed how proud he was, after earning a call-up to the senior international squad, which is a leap forward for the lad, whose youth career was at Leixlip United, from which he moved to Norwich in 2019.

Omobamidele added: “Every time I think back to Leixlip United, I kind of just smile because it was just such a good time in my life.

“The players there, we all went to school together. It was a real tight-knit club and that was around the period when a lot of players were starting to go league of Ireland but we kind of stuck together.

“I think the furthest person away that played for us lived in Lucan and that’s only ten minutes away. A lot of other teams were bringing players from Waterford and stuff like that.

“But, we kind of kept it close to home and that’s where our success came from. Leixlip United will always have a place in my heart.

“It’s a very proud moment for me and my family. I was in the gym when I got the news and when I got home my mam was jumping all over the place.

“It was a great moment, a couple of my neighbours dropped in notes saying congratulations as well so it’s just a great time for me, my family and Leixlip as a community as well.”