Twardek thriving in the freedom of a more attacking role

Gone were dreams of making this year's World Cup, stretching the Republic of Ireland's absence from the tournament to 24 long, barren years. Disappointment for most of us, but not all of us.

“My family is Czech, so I was happy that Czechia qualified for the World Cup – but maybe you should leave that bit out,” laughs Kris Twardek as he speaks to Tribune Sport after Galway United's win away to Drogheda United on Monday night.

Trailing 2-0 after 18 minutes, Francely Lomboto throw the visitors a lifeline when pulling a goal back in the 21st minute, before the introduction of Twardek on the hour mark saw the visitors turn things around.

The Canadian bagged the equaliser with his first touch following his introduction, and then laid on the pass for what proved to be the winner from fellow sub, Axel Piesold, to continue his brilliant start to life at United, a life he says he is really enjoying.

“It's great. I have a nice life. My wife and I live out in the countryside, we are out in Lettermore. It's a beautiful spot, it just matched with what I grew up doing in Canada, it's nice and peaceful, its kind of my speed, so off the field, it's nice, and on the field, it's been going well,” he says.

'Going well' might be understating things a tad: his goal on Monday made it five in 10 games to move him joint-top of the scoring charts along with Colm Whelan of Bohemians, and Derry City's Michael Duffy.

He didn't arrive at United with a reputation for goal-scoring: he had stints at both Bohemians and Sligo Rovers, where his duties were more defence-orientated, but he says that when he was younger, he was deployed in a more attacking position, and he has been delighted to return to that front role with United.

“I mean, it's funny, a lot of the clubs I played at, I've played in a full-back position. played as wing-back, and this [United] is probably the first time in a long time I've been a winger in a system that's direct.

“A lot of the Canadian leagues, they very slow and rhythmic, so this is this is probably the first time in a long time I've actually been in a system where I've had opportunities to score. Growing up, I was always a striker, coming off the right is always what I've done, but just a bit more narrow with kind of the flexibility to go in or out.

“It's been nice. It just feels free flowing, you know, when you just kind of feel in the groove,” he said.

He has been one of the signings of the season, not just for United, but across the league, yet his first start only came in the seventh game of the season, the 4-3 win at home to Waterford in which he scored twice.

He started the next two games as well before returning to the bench last Monday, a move which many questioned, but as ever, there is usually more to a story than what first appears, as Twardek himself explained.

“I actually woke up not feeling the best today. I was feeling a little bit ill, I don't know what happened, but as the day went on, I just kind of felt excited and ready for a good game, and it turned out to be a good night,” he said.

Aaron Bolger also came down with illness, but unlike Twardek, he was not well enough to be part of the match-day squad, though he did travel with the squad, and fingers will be crossed that both are fully healthy for this Friday's game with Shelbourne, especially as Twardek will have a special guest at the ground, as his father is travelling over from Canada for the game.

Neither he nor his wife, who is also Canadian, have family in Ireland, but the 29-years-old says that hasn't been a problem in terms of settling down.

“I've spent time in Ireland in the past with Bohs and Sligo, I'm accustomed to it. The people are very nice people, especially on the west coast. I love it. Sligo and Galway, the people are really nice, they're cool,” he says.