Jake O’Brien eyes quick return to Lyon side after one-match ban
Lyon’s Jake O’Brien was sent off during their French Ligue 1 defeat to Le Havre
Irish defender Jake O’Brien plans to make a rapid return to the first team with French side Lyon after he was handed just a one-match ban for a red card offence in their last game.
Cork native O’Brien has become an immediate success with Lyon since his move from West Ham United, establishing himself in their side and keeping his place despite struggles which saw them go through three managers in the space of four months. He was also voted as the club’s player of the month in December by Lyon fans.
He was one of two Lyon players sent off in last week’s 3-1 league defeat away to Rennes. And while teammate Duje Ćaleta-Car has been given a two-game ban, O’Brien will miss just one match, today’s Cup tie away to Bergerac, so he’s back in the frame for the next league match, at home to Rennes next Friday.
Capped 11 times at U21 level, O’Brien’s form in France makes him an obvious candidate for promotion to the senior Ireland squad when they assemble under a new manager for friendlies against Switzerland and Belgium in March.
Speaking to independent.ie in October, O’Brien said he was willing to bide his time for an international call-up.
"Short term the aim is to stay in the Lyon team, and if I keep playing regularly here then why not in terms of the Irish team, I know we have a lot of options a centre back but it won't do me any harm if I am playing regularly out here,” he said.
“It's about making progress now, developing as a player, playing for Ireland is something I'd love to do. I'd definitely recommend doing something different and not just sticking to the England route, if you can crack it in a league like France it can only benefit your career, it's more technical than the lower leagues in England, you can stay in England and try to slowly work your way up the ladder but this route I took, and the other lads like Festy Ebosele in Italy, is an option.”
