Lincoln City attacker Jack Moylan made headlines across the British Isles this weekend when he bagged a hat trick on his debut for Ireland.
Moylan, fresh from winning the League One title with the Imps, earned his first call-up against Grenada, and he didn’t disappoint. He scored three second-half goals to become the first Irish player to hit a treble on his debut since David Kelly in 1999.
He missed out on the squad for their upcoming friendlies against Qatar and Canada, and now has a summer to unwind and prepare for the next challenge: The Championship.
Another player accustomed to international goalscoring is Michael Owen. he hit a hat-trick for the Three Lions against Colombia, and understands the feelings that come with excelling for your country. The Stacey West caught up with Owen this week, to ask how Jack might be feeling, and what comes next for our Magic Man.
“You’ll be feeling on top of the world right now and feel that anything is possible,” said Owen, who is the UK ambassador for the online casino comparison site Casino.org.
“It’s a great achievement and sometimes things just happen for a reason and this was the perfect moment for him and his family and one he will remember for the rest of his life.”
While that is all well and good, there is never a ‘happily ever after’. It is always ‘aht comes next’ and for Moylan, it’s a step up and another challenge.
“Well done to him,” added Owen. “He needs to stay focused, have a good off-season, and prepare well as the Championship is a step up from League One.
“Teams will be tougher, defenders will be stronger, games will come thick and fast, and you’ll be needing to up your game.”
That’s not to say he won’t make the step up. Valued at £800,000 by Transfermarkt, but closer to ten times that by Lincoln City fans, the world is at his feet. However, come Mid-June, it will be a ball at his feet as he looks forward to a season in the second tier alongside his title-winning teammates.
“If you train well and believe in yourself and teammates, then you can start the season well,” finished Owen.
“As a team, you have the bond of getting promoted, playing a very good season in League One, so work hard, and continue doing what has worked well.”
Whatever it is Jack Moylan has been doing, it has certainly been the right thing. He’s got 21 goals and ten assists in his 88 outings for the Imps, despite missing two significant periods because of injury. He’s now fit and firing, looking every inch a Championship player, with a lot to look forward to.
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