'Happy to help, ready if needed' - Max O'Leary eyeing Ireland debut
Patience is deemed a most virtuous trait; tolerance, however, has not yet reaped its reward - Max O'Leary has been waiting six years.
The Bristol City keeper was first called into the squad at the end of the 2018-19 season to train alongside Darren Randolph and Sean McDermott ahead of Euro 2020 qualifying games against Denmark and Gibraltar.
But as the goalkeeping guard changed over the next couple of years, O'Leary found himself on the periphery as the emerging trio of Caoimhín Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu and Mark Travers brought a serious level of competition for a place in the squad.
O'Leary was called up again in March 2022 and has been knocking around for the past three years, consistently reporting for duty without seeing any minutes on the pitch.
There is, however, a sense that this might change during the upcoming doubleheader against Senegal and Luxembourg.
"Of course, it's something I've wanted to do," said O'Leary, when asked was he desperate for his first cap.
"I've been around a while now and seen a few managers. Hopefully, I'll get my opportunity soon.
"I'm ready to go and if I get that chance, I'll be happy to take it. I've put in the hard work, and it'd be a great honour.
"I think it's been a similar sort of situation as the past. Keep doing well at club level and hopefully, you'll get a chance to play. Obviously, these are friendlies in this camp, so there might be a chance there. I'm ready if needed."
O'Leary comes into camp off the back of an impressive season as club level, helping Bristol City reach the Championship play-offs, and he has now been an ever-present in the starting XI for over two seasons – he has played 125 league games in a row for the club.
And the 28-year-old believes that his game has progressed over the past few seasons playing consistently, which has helped him to mature into the role.
"I have definitely matured and you get into a rhythm of playing, especially with the volume of the Championship," said O'Leary.
"And feel like I have done well over that longer period of time. Obviously, there are going to be mistakes in there, but the consistency I am really happy with.
"Nigel Pearson was the manager at the time [of breaking into the team], and he just said 'go and express yourself, you are going to make mistakes. I don't care. I am going to back you'.
"And I think just having that confidence to try and express myself and help the team when I can really helped at the start and just carried it on."
O'Leary was asked was it tough to always play the back-up role for Ireland, however, he explained that he remains happy to help out in whatever way possible.
"You prepare the same whether you're playing or not playing," he said. "I had my time of not playing when I was younger. Whatever I can do to help who is playing, I know I'd want the same if I was playing, so just to have that good environment in training, pushing each other and just making sure we get everything we need for the games is always the most important thing.
"Putting whoever's playing first rather than yourself has been good, whether that's Caoimhín, I know Gav's played before when I've been here. Whoever it is, I'm happy to help."
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