As Brentford team-mates back in the day, John Egan had a front row seat to observe Chiedozie Ogebene’s progress and potential as a youngster.
Four years later as Republic of Ireland colleagues, Egan isn’t at all surprised that his fellow Cork man is going places because of the graft put in behind the scenes.
But centre-back Egan joked how he is glad to be playing in the same side rather than trying to mark the ‘unbelievable’ Rotherham United flyer.
“I'd probably have to foul him as he's a handful for any defender,” laughed the Sheffield United man ahead of tonight’s friendly clash with Lithuania.
“Hopefully he keeps going in the right direction and keeps his confidence up and continues to play really well for us.”
Ogbene is quickly becoming the poster boy of the Stephen Kenny era, and particularly so after his stunning overhead goal against Belgium on Saturday.
Fans are falling in love with a player who has three goals in six caps since the League One and ex-League of Ireland man made his senior breakthrough last summer.
And the Nigerian born star, 24, is showing precisely why Kenny - even before he got the senior job - was pleading with Ogbene to declare for Ireland.
Egan and Ogbene were briefly at Brentford together in 2018 before Egan left for the Blades where his own career - for club and country - really took off.
“I’m hugely impressed by him,” said Egan. “I was at Brentford when he signed so I already knew what Chieo was about when he came into this squad in the summer.
“He has been a breath of fresh air, on and off the pitch. He's a special person, really humble and hard working. He came in, got his chance and grabbed it with both hands.
“It's fair to say his performances have been unbelievable since he's come into the team and the goal on Saturday will only do his confidence the world of good.
“He really is a top man and has shown everybody what a top player he is.”
Ogbene - who plays as a wing-back for his club - is out of contract with Rotherham this summer although the Millers have the option of extending his deal for another season.
While high-flying Rotherham look set for Championship promotion, Ogbene has designs on eventually becoming a Premier League player.
And Egan wouldn’t put it past him either, knowing first hand just how hard Ogbene is willing to work for it.
“He's an unbelievable athlete,” he continued. “Brentford had a lot of quality players so it probably took him a bit longer than expected to get his chance.
“But I remember coming into the Brentford training ground in the morning and he was always there, working hard on his own.
“And then he would stay after training - on his own - to work hard to improve his game.”
Ogbene, who joined from Limerick, only made nine appearances for Brentford either side of a loan spell with Exeter.
Egan said: ““He didn't break through like he wanted but, as a footballer, sometimes you need a chance to play games.
“He went to Rotherham and played loads of games and managed to get into the Ireland squad.
“Everybody can see how well he's doing here. He has improved loads but he was always destined to go on and do well.
“Everybody's route is different and no two routes are the same. From Chieo's point of view, he worked really hard and never stopped believing in himself.
“That's what you have to do. You have to keep trying to improve in football as there are a lot of good players out there who want to take your position.
“Wherever you are, you have to keep trying to improve and when you get a chance, be ready to take it.”
Egan speaks from experience as he went around the houses to get to where he is, with spells at Gillingham, Sunderland and various loans before the Bees and now Blades.
But Ireland boss Kenny is on record as saying that he feels Egan is good enough to be playing Champions League football.
And the way Kenny speaks about Ogbene doesn’t sound like he is referring to someone playing in England’s third tier.
Egan added: “The manager is really positive about everybody in the camp. He really believes in us.
“When he speaks to us in training, in meetings and when he's going through plans for games, he gives everyone confidence and that translates onto the pitch.
“Everyone knows they feel wanted and the confidence that gives players is huge.”
Meanwhile, Egan insists the world’s 137th-ranked team will command the same respect as the world’s best.
Belgium may have fielded an experimental side in Dublin on Saturday, but the bulk of those players will be going to the World Cup this winter.
The Red Devils are FIFA’s top-ranked side and Ireland - who are 49th - were disappointed to only draw 2-2.
Lithuania sit 137th in that list and arrive in Dublin on the back of a 2-1 friendly win away to San Marino last week.
They finished rock bottom of their World Cup qualifying group won by Switzerland and which also included Italy, Northern Ireland and Bulgaria.
Lithuania’s only win was against Bulgaria, but they held Switzerland to a narrow 1-0 in St Gallen before losing home and away to Northern Ireland.
But Egan insists Ireland will respect them as much as Belgium and said: “We’re up for every game and that’s no different tonight.
“Our fans are unbelievable and the passion they bring to the games drives you on as a player.
“Every time you play for Ireland you’re playing for your family and your people. I don’t think anybody has ever, or will ever take, it for granted.
“We want to go out there and put on a performance for ourselves and our fans and try and get the result.
“You can’t take our foot off the pedal - you have to play every game as if it’s your last and hopefully we can keep the momentum going.”
A year ago, Ireland slipped up at home in a World Cup qualifier against similar low level opposition in Luxembourg.
It was the lowest point of Kenny’s spell in charge and one of the worst results in the nation’s history - but the team is turning a corner.
Egan said: “After a disappointing result like that it would have been easy to go off-plan completely, but the manager and the staff stuck to doing things their way.
“They have improved us as a team and as players and there’s a really exciting future for Irish football.
“It doesn’t happen overnight but if you’ve seen the progress we’ve made since then, it has been unbelievable. It’s a really enjoyable squad to be a part of.”
