For six long months, Andrew Omobamidele was stuck in Groundhog Day.
Wake up, throw on a back brace, head to Norwich City’s training ground - but only for a massage, head home again and then off with the brace before bedtime.
Everyday he watched as his teammates got booted up and headed out to the pitch.
“It’s not like a normal injury that you have to do rehab on,” he said of the stress fracture in his back that stalled his progress at club and country level.
Prior to the injury in December 2021 he had burst onto the Premier League stage and had picked up five senior Ireland caps. All this six months before he turned 20.
“My back just completely shut down and that’s why I had the back brace. I did nothing for two months. I’d get up in the morning, go in and go home.
“That was my life for six months.”
The former Leixlip United man added: “It was difficult. I kind of came onto the scene quickly at Norwich and on the international stage, obviously my debut against Portugal and coming back here and playing against Serbia and Azerbaijan and these teams.
“I got a stress fracture in my back and that kept me out for six to seven months.
“Going from all of those highs in two weeks to the lowest where I couldn't do anything, gym work, I just had to naturally rest.
“It was tough but happily that's behind me, I've no problems with my back.”
He remembers his first game back - a pre-season friendly last summer against King’s Lynn.
“I was starting that game and I was proper nervous,” Omobamidele said. “I was going over it in my head 'what's going to happen with my back?' and stuff like that.
“I think it was a couple of passes and stuff you take for granted when you're playing football, stepping up with the line, being with your back four… after I just kind of forgot about it.
“I remember coming in with the boys at half-time and they were saying 'How's your back?' and I was like 'It's gone, I don't feel it'. That was probably the moment.”
These days he is managing his load in the helter-skelter world of the Championship, but not because of his back.
An ankle injury led to problems further up the leg.
“Both my groins were a bit overloaded,” he said.
“I had just come off the back of playing Saturday-Tuesday games and they were starting to pipe back up and starting to give me a little bit of a problem.
“My training load had to be reduced and stuff like that, so I just had to manage that.
“I’m in a good place now with them. Like I said, it’s just a management thing with my load and stuff like that.
“Obviously in the Championship it’s relentless - Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday - and this is my first season starting in the Championship and playing.”
Omobamidele has no doubt about his ability to take on the best that France can throw at him - if selected - in next Monday’s Euro 2024 opener.
Stephen Kenny is likely to give the talented defender a run-out in tomorrow night’s friendly against Latvia, before assessing his readiness for the visit of the World Cup runners-up.
“It's a massive privilege to play for Ireland so if I can be involved in any of the games that would be great, especially on my return,” said the 20-year-old.
READ MORE:
Josh Van der Flier praises 'Hero' Johnny Sexton after Grand Slam win
Try hero Dan Sheehan lost for words after historic home Grand Slam success
Johnny Sexton says more to come from Ireland after fairytale Grand Slam triumph
Player ratings as Ireland make history and secure home grand slam triumph
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alert
