Michael Darragh Macauley is confident he can win back his place in the Dublin team in 2016.
The 2013 Footballer of the Year struggled to nail down his spot in the side last season. He started last year’s All Ireland final win over Kerry on the bench.
The midfielder missed the entire O’Byrne Cup and Allianz League campaign in 2015.
It was no shock to see him left out of the side that hammered Longford in the Dub’s first outing in the Leinster Championship.
Niggling hamstring and calf injuries kept him out of that game but he regained his place once he was back to full fitness.
The Boden man made the cut and started in the straight forward victories over Kildare and Westmeath.
His place in the side was lost though when the Dubs began their quest for Sam Maguire in earnest.
Originally selected by Jim Gavin for the All Ireland quarter-final win over Fermanagh he was dropped before throw in, with Denis Bastick drafted into the starting XV.
Bastick and Brian Fenton from there formed the midfield partnership at the expense of the Ballyboden St Enda’s clubman.
Despite the disappointment of losing his starting status in the Dublin team Macauley is determined to regain his spot.
It was a similar story this year as he missed virtually all of the Dub’s Allianz League campaign as he fully focused on Ballyboden’s All Ireland club campaign.
Having made a cameo appearance in the Allianz League win over Kerry the 29-year-old is confident he can work his way back into Jim Gavin’s plans.
The midfielder’s been speaking to 98FM’s Darren Cleary ahead of their game against Laois at Nowlan Park:
