Southampton ace has mentality to use international tests and find form

He is currently with his country’s squad for two friendly matches versus Norway and Malta, with each member of the group likely keeping one eye on what comes next year.

Bazunu will face some of the world’s best forwards with France – Kylian Mbappe and Ballon D’or winner Karim Benzema – and the Netherlands in European Championship 2024 qualifying.

The Irish reached both the 2012 and 2016 tournaments before missing out last summer – but 20-year-old Bazunu wants nothing more than to play in the world’s biggest matches. 

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“I was delighted,” he responded, when asked what his thoughts were to be given such a tough qualifying group, which is rounded off with Greece and Gibraltar. 

“I was really happy to see we would be coming up against top-quality opposition. For me, my goal is always to play against the best in the world.

“That’s how you learn the quickest, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Bazunu concluded, but was quick to put the Daily Echo right when given the erroneous suggestion international football is best considered a learning curve.

“That is a certain perspective but the biggest thing for me is the pride of playing for your country, it’s a different feeling than club football altogether.”

Bazunu was gutted to hear Erling Haaland will not feature versus Ireland this week after recently recovering from a foot injury – but he has already faced him once.

The youngster did well to limit the 23-goals-in-18-matches Manchester City phenomenon to just one notch, with the help of the post admittedly.

If Bazunu beats Bournemouth’s Mark Travers and Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher to the number one jersey for manager Stephen Kenny this week, it will already be his 11th international cap.

“It was a dream come true to make my debut for Ireland, I’ve enjoyed every one of the games I’ve played in,” Bazunu exclaimed.

“The goal is to continue to do well at club level because that will allow me to get my place for Ireland.”

As for continuing his club form; it probably has been some of the more difficult weeks personally since arriving from City in the summer.

He has shipped seven in the last two games and a few of those have been pointed out by supporters as potentially underwhelming efforts. They can take solace from knowing the young ace is more than mentally strong.

“It is a young dressing room at Southampton and I see myself as one of the more responsible or one of the more mature younger lads considering I have had a lot of first-team experience,” he said.

“So I try to help them in any way I can and also take advice from the older lads.” 

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