Facing an uncertain future, Shamrock Rovers star sees European heroics as a shop window
Shamrock Rovers are closing in on progress from the league phase of the Europa Conference League.
Shamrock Rovers midfielder Markus Poom hopes his performances in Europe can put him in the shop window.
The Estonia international is coming to the end of his second year-long loan spell with the Hoops - and is still under contract for another year at parent club Flora Tallinn.
He admits he is uncertain about what the future holds - but is hopeful that he can expand the options available to him with a few more big nights in the Europa Conference League.
Shamrock Rovers picked up their second win of the league phase when they sent The New Saints packing on Thursday night.
Now on seven points from three games, they are on the verge of securing a spot in the knockout rounds in the new year.
“It’s brilliant,” said Poom of Rovers’ European run. “Obviously as a player playing these types of games there are more eyes on you, from clubs around (Europe) not just Ireland.
“So it’s a good platform for players like myself, you know, to maybe find a move abroad whenever that might come about, so I’m really happy to play in these games and leave my all on the pitch.”
Poom’s latest loan deal expires at the end of the year and he added: “We’ll see what the future holds.
“I think I'll have to sit down with the manager (Stephen Bradley) and have a talk about my future here, but right now we’ve still got three more games left this season and I’ll give my all.
“Basically it’s not in my hands, it’s a tough situation, but right now I’m just focusing on the present but I really like playing my football here so see what the future holds.”
Poom, meanwhile, is confident that Rovers can finish the league phase in style, with games away to Rapid Vienna, at home to Borac Banja Luka and away to Chelsea still to come.
“We want to take as many points as we can,” he said. “We don’t want to be satisfied, we want to keep getting points on the board and, yeah, hopefully we kick on after the break now.
“We’ve still got more levels to go in our game and the way we’re playing right now, we can get better.
“Obviously the draw has suited us. We have to be realistic, these three games we’ve played now are probably the easier of the bunch.
“So the three games coming up will be a good test for us because the league is over for us in Ireland.
“We have to really focus on our training and getting ourselves fit and being fit until at least Christmas.
“It’s going to be a real challenge. But we’ve ended on a good note now so the lads will have a few days off and then we’ll get together and start looking forward to the next three games.”
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Next up for Poom is Nations League duty next week with Estonia.
“We have Azerbaijan away and Slovakia away, so two big games,” he said.
“We’re in the C Division of the Nations League so we need a point to secure our place in the division and that is our aim.
“The next game against Azerbaijan is going to be the big one because they are fourth and we are third. It’s a tough game, but obviously we fancy our chances.
“It’s the life of a footballer, you want to play these international games with club, with country, I’m just looking forward to it.”
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