‘The stuff that’s happened to me… I wouldn’t wish upon anyone’

Will Smallbone sat in the shade on media duty from Antalya yesterday. Which was just as well. It was 32 degrees in Turkey and Smallbone needed cover for his shiny pate.

As someone who started to go bald in their mid-20s, I could relate to a shaven-headed Smallbone, although his hair loss was a by-product of alopecia.

These days, the Republic of Ireland midfielder is an ambassador for Alopecia UK, and his experience act as a support for others.

‘It’s quite a niche thing to happen to someone so hopefully I can help some of the kids that are going through a similar thing,’ he said.

Through 2021, when his hair had started to fall out, Smallbone was coping with a long recovery from ACL damage, which effectively cost him a year of his career.

The challenges helped shape his character.

‘The stuff that’s happened to me over the last few years I wouldn’t wish upon anyone,’ he said. ‘I’ve shown resilience and character to know that I can take on anything that is thrown at me.’

Smallbone comes across as an articulate individual, even if he was wary of saying anything that might rock the boat at club level. After starring on loan at Stoke City last term, when he played 46 games, he will return to parent club, Southampton, after the international window.

He has a year to go on his contract and is set to figure in the plans of manager-elect, Russell Martin, whose appointment at Southampton is delayed by compensation due to Swansea City.

That’s down the road. Right now, Smallbone’s focus is convincing Stephen Kenny of his worth for involvement in the Euro 2024 double header against Greece and Gibraltar.

The Ireland boss made a point of building up Smallbone last week, usually an indication of the manager’s line of thinking.

For all that the Irish midfield offers Mr Tidy (Josh Cullen), Mr Tackler (Jayson Molumby) and Mr Terrier (Jason Knight), it lacks someone who can glide past opponents on the ball, while also offering a threat as a set-piece specialist.

Step forward, Smallbone, who was schooled by one of the finest with the dead ball, club colleague James Ward-Prowse.

‘I always took set plays going through the academy at Southampton and when I went to the first team, I did a few sessions with James.

‘He’s one of the best in the world at taking free-kicks and to learn from him is something that I was very fortunate to do. Hopefully, I can carry that into the Ireland squad.’

Against Greece, where Ireland must find a way to unpick the defensive lock and provide opportunities to Evan Ferguson and Michael Obafemi, Smallbone’s silks could shine over steel.

Kenny had a long look at the midfielder against Latvia in a friendly in March, where Ireland scored three goals, but held back using him against France five days later, although he must have been tempted.

‘It was very nice to have my debut go alongside a man-of-the-match,’ said Smallbone. ‘Looking back on it, it will always be something that I’m very proud of.’

From Basingstoke in Hampshire, Smallbone is eligible for Ireland through his mother, Mary, who hails from Hugginstown in Kilkenny, and has been part of Ireland teams from Under 18 level. This time last year, he was on fire for the Irish U21s, scoring a brace against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Tallaght, followed by a corker against Montenegro.

John O’Shea, then an Irish U21 coach, liked his style and later that summer Stoke City, where O’Shea was on the first team ticket, enquired about a loan move.

‘I wanted to play for Southampton but I selfishly wanted to have the best opportunity to play as much as possible and that’s why my head was set on going on loan as the next step in my career,’ Smallbone told The Athletic last month.

‘Ralph (Hasenhuttl) was great to send me out and said it was a shame that we didn’t change to a midfield three earlier because I would have had a better chance of getting in the team.’

That Ireland play ‘a midfield three’ could open the Euro 2024 door for Smallbone, who has hooked up again with O’Shea, now the No 3 on Kenny’s staff.