It’s great to see the young midfielder being so engaging and forthcoming with his team’s supporters.
Callum O’Dowda is highly regarded by Bristol City and Ireland fans but they, like the man himself, are aware that the time will soon come where a lot is expected of him each and every week.
The 22-year-old has already totted up 16 appearances for City this season but seven of his 12 league appearances have been off the bench. He was in and out of the starting line-up at the start of the season but seems to be thriving in recent weeks and was surely buoyed by his 90-minute outing in Ireland’s 2-0 win over Moldova.
O’Dowda got another start for City at the weekend but, despite a decent personal performance, was left reflecting on a 3-0 loss to Leeds United. Soon after the match, he took to social media to apologise to the fans.
https://twitter.com/CallumODowda/status/921782160817868800
That hurt and determination was still evident on Tuesday afternoon as he prepared for the sizeable task of taking on Crystal Palace in the League Cup.
He certainly wasn’t holding back.
https://twitter.com/CallumODowda/status/922870440535773184
O’Dowda has impressed teammates and coaches in the Ireland set-up since he was called into the squad as an uncapped and unheralded Leyton Orient winger, before Euro 2016.
In his first game for Ireland, down in Cork, he showed little fear and drove at opposition players. He backs himself, his talent and hard work, to make a difference. In training, too, he has shown he is not standing on the reputations of some of Ireland’s more established stars.
Everyone that we have spoken to about O’Dowda paints the picture of a confident and driven young man.
Those traits were on show, last night, as O’Dowda stayed true to his word and helped City bounce back. They did it in style too.
Palace, who recently defeated Chelsea in the Premier League, were dispatched 4-1 and O’Dowda sealed the fantastic result with a fantastic strike from 25 yards out.
Great finish from @CallumODowda v Crystal Palace. #coybig pic.twitter.com/f7119ofIJn
— Na Glinntí Glasa (@NaGlinntiGlasa) October 24, 2017
Following the game, he was quick to celebrate his first ever senior goal for the club with the same fans he had apologised to at the weekend.
https://twitter.com/CallumODowda/status/922937523021762562
More of the same please.
With Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City all victorious, last night, O’Dowda’s all-round performance and stunning strike will certainly put the bigger clubs on notice if they draw Bristol City in the next round.
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