Like many of those exalted with similar tags, rarely does a career unfold in that manner. Byrne was back to his best on Monday night, capping his first Shamrock Rovers start in five months with their final goal of a 4-1 stroll over Cork City. He’s not regained his peak performance to be assured of keeping his spot for tonight’s short trip to fellow title contenders St Patrick’s Athletic but does finally feel good about himself. Last year was the one when Rovers broke new ground by reaching the knockout stages of the Conference League but Byrne was detached from the epicentre, his contributions limited to brief cameos. He could feel from the piercing pain during pivots that knee surgery hadn’t cured his problems. “I played throughout 2024 a bit handicapped,” he confessed. “Everybody knew my knee wasn’t right but I tried to help the team as much as I could before I decided to go for another operation.” Physically and mentally, Byrne was feeling it. It’s why he’s glad to have utilised specialists to get him back on track. Kilkenny-based physio David Roche is renowned for his work in rugby and athletics. He’s reconnected with Shayne Murphy, the Cork native he knew as strength and conditioning coach at City. For healing the tricks his mind was playing on him, Byrne leaned on Mary Larkin, the sports psychologist who Stephen Bradley has lauded as integral to their success. “Shayne flies in and works from Navan,” he explained about the extra-curricular training. “He works with the Scotland team and is still a consultant for Man City. Shayne knew me for a long time so was able to help me get my body back.” Working his way back to fitness was one thing but the playmaker then had to contend with breaking into a team that was operating against the likes of Chelsea and his former club APOEL on the European stage. “You have to call a spade a spade,” he said about last year’s frustrations. “The manager didn’t feel I was up to the level to put me in these big games that I wanted to play in. “As a player coming back from injury, you need to be in those games to get a feel for what it takes. There is fitness and there is match fitness. “You have to be realistic as well. I’ve played for Ireland and won Player of the Year here a couple of times but won’t be at it if not playing regularly. “Dylan Watts got Player of the Year last year and Graham Burke was excellent so that was just the way. “Mary was a great help. When you’re injured, you’re injured and that’s it. Nobody wants to be injured but it happened playing for Rovers. I got tackled against Derry and it opened my knee up. We didn’t think it was as bad but it took a long time to get properly back.” Now he feels justified in banging on Bradley’s door. Rovers have strung three wins together and go top for the first time this season if they win and Drogheda United don’t beat champions Shelbourne. Richmond Park will be heaving and Byrne raring to go. Around the same fixture exactly two years ago, his annoyance at Rovers rejecting a €500,000 bid from MLS outfit Charlotte FC was evident. Off-field action at the Hoops has since centred on boardroom battles – with 25% shareholder Dermot Desmond this week urging members to consider who’s batting for them at the top table – but Byrne is just content to be on the pitch. “Getting the full 90 minutes on Monday against Cork was a step, even though I got sloppy in parts of the game,” stressed the four-times capped maestro. “I’m happy with where I’m at. I don’t feel as if I’m chasing anything anymore.”