Richie Towell has been credited with ‘putting his ego to one side’ in order to learn the ropes at Shamrock Rovers.
And Hoops boss Stephen Bradley feels it is no coincidence that the club’s rich vein of form has coincided with Towell’s recent performances.
Towell was instrumental in helping to deliver Friday’s impressive 3-1 derby win away to arch rivals Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
And the result kept the two-time champions on the coattails of Derry City who still lead the Premier Division by a point after thumping Derry City 7-1.
Ex-Celtic man Towell, 30, was a big hit with Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk and was crowned PFAI Player of the Year in 2015 and made the Team of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
He landed a move to Brighton after that before two loan spells at Rotherham United and a permanent move to Salford City.
But Towell was snapped up by the Hoops last summer but it has taken him time to deliver consistently in a Rovers shirt.
And he has been frustrated with starting on the bench at times but such is the nature in a squad laced with riches.
Bradley said: “I think in our run of form it’s been no coincidence that Richie has been very good in that period of time.
“It’s taken a while for him to understand how we play and what we demand from him but the energy and the press he brings to us is top class.
“Richie knows. He’s played around the leagues in England and they’re demanding different things from him and he’s had to adjust to coming to us but he’s done that.
“He’s put his ego to the side and been willing to learn, even at his age, and buy into what we do. He was brilliant on Friday.”
Towell was the big fish at Dundalk during his Oriel Park days but isn’t at Rovers where there are a host of players vying for differing midfield roles.
Bradley continued: “It’s a different type of game we play and Richie’s biggest strength is running off the front man scoring goals, that’s what he’s made his name doing.
“And with us he has had to adjust a little bit. He can still do that at times but we need him to do different things and he’s done that.
“He’s put his ego to the side and been man enough to listen.”
One criticism levelled at Towell - from rival fans at least - is that he may be hitting the weights too hard as he looks more physically imposing than he used to.
But Bradley has no concerns in that regard.
“We had that conversation with Richie at the very start because he’s always looked after himself really, really well,” he said.
“We’re really conscious of staying on people’s weight and body fats and Richie hasn’t budged on his weight or body fat since the first day he came back in.
“If anything he can go the other way and be too much into it. He has managed that really well. You can see his energy levels from the last few weeks.”
Bradley also hailed Andy Lyons for handling Friday’s derby occasion, where he scored the opening goal against Bohs, the club he left over the winter.
“When you get to know Andy and his character, he doesn’t get flustered by anything. He takes everything in his stride,” he added.
“Even when we were speaking to him about signing, nothing about the rivalry came into his head. He’s very calm and level-headed.”
