Kevin Kilbane has questioned why West Brom midfielder Jayson Molumby has been called up by Stephen Kenny for Ireland’s October international fixtures.
Ireland face Greece and Gibraltar in crucial Euro 2024 qualifying matches as they currently sit fourth in the Group B, having only won once in the opening five outings, losing to the Netherlands and France in September.
West Brom midfielder Molumby started in the defeat to France but was relegated to the bench against the Dutch and has been limited to a role among the substitutes in the Baggies’ last three Championship matches, leading BBC Sport pundit Kilbane to question whether he should be a part of Kenny’s squad.
Writing for the Irish Times (7 October) he said: “The manager is hardly sticking to the tried and tested. Poor results demanded a shake-up for this window. Josh Cullen is an automatic starter and Jason Knight’s energetic displays against France this year have been encouraging.
“But the others – Jayson Molumby and Alan Browne – are midfielders who can cope with the physicality of international football. Neither offers a solution to Ireland’s creative limitations.”
Molumby has had a strange start to the Championship season under Corberan, having started eight matches so far in the league this season, but the 24-year-old has slipped down the pecking order in recent weeks as Alex Mowatt has reestablished himself as a crucial member of the Baggies’ side.
Corberan has preferred to start Mowatt alongside Okay Yokuslu in recent weeks with Nathaniel Chalobah operating from the bench, while Molumby has been stuck to the bench and hasn’t played a single minute in West Brom’s last two matches.
But Kilbane’s frustration towards the midfielder seems to be more based on what he wants from Kenny’s side as opposed to criticising the 24-year-old. Molumby is by no means a creative midfielder, instead, he is a more industrious option in the centre of the park.
That is more than likely the reason that he has seen his minutes limited at The Hawthorns in recent weeks, as Corberan is keen to have technically gifted players littered throughout his side. Albion fans will be hoping that a good spell with his national side will see Molumby return to the West Midlands with a bit more confidence and back to his best.