Moses Odubajo admitted on Instagram Live with Kevin Lisbie that he needs “to get back to enjoying the game”, having lost his place in December 2019 while spending the last two months of the season sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The 26-year-old was a regular at right-back at the start of the campaign but ended up playing second-fiddle to Liam Palmer from mid-October onwards. Odubajo only managed sporadic appearances in the five months that followed and failed to make the matchday squad after February 1.
Since joining on a free transfer from Brentford last summer, the former England U20 international has gone on to make 17 appearances in all competitions and finds himself as an afterthought under Garry Monk.
He said on Instagram Live: “It’s been a tough journey so far in terms of being here. Obviously coming back from injury is never great for anyone but being at a big club with a big fanbase comes with big pressure.
“The players may not say it but they put pressure on themselves. If you go away to somewhere like Derby it feels like you’re playing at home because the away end is rammed.
“I feel like for me, this quarantine has made me realise and reflect on things that I need to improve on. I need to get back to enjoying the game again, like when I was playing on the fields with my brothers. Because when I play like that, then I’m at my best.
“But I’m injury-free now and I’m just working on stuff in the gym. All is good, I’m fit, healthy and ready to go.”
Odubajo’s admission is worrying as it’s his debut season at Hillsborough, but his disillusionment is somewhat understandable given the seven months he’s endured. He’s made only two league appearances in 2020 and watched Wednesday go from third in the Championship (December 25, 2019) to 15th (March 8, 2020).
Now the 26-year-old has returned to fitness, however, he’ll no doubt hope to make up for lost time when the season resumes following the Covid-19 pandemic.
