McClean: Bratislava mission is my target for return
JAMES McCLEAN believes he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee damage which has put a question mark over his fitness for Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off with Slovakia next month.
The winger is in Dubai as part of his rehab from the medial ligament injury he sustained on duty for Stoke a fortnight ago.
‘It’s a torn MCL and a torn meniscus,’ said McClean. ‘They said it was a long-standing tear. I’ve obviously had it for a long time but it wasn’t giving me any trouble.’
The gap between the injury and play-off showdown on March 26 is 43 days but McClean is upbeat about his prospects of making the flight to Bratislava.
‘They said it would take six weeks, so I’m hoping it’s three or four. I’ve always been a good healer and I’m hoping it’s the case this time around.’
McClean is having to put up with a knee brace as part of his recovery.
‘This thing has been on for nine days and it’s annoying me. It’s driving me insane that I can’t do the things that I normally do, and it’s only been two weeks since the injury.’
Ahead of his squad announcement on March 13, Irish manager Mick McCarthy is set to recall midfielder James McCarthy after a three-year absence.
McCarthy made the point of watching his namesake play for Crystal Palace against Newcastle United on Saturday — his ninth successive Premier League start.
‘James did exactly what I knew he would do for Palace. He does the simple things well, sits in front of the back four and controls things for them. Like Shane (Long) at Southampton, he is benefiting from regular first-team football.’
Long got the first goal for Southampton as Ireland Under 19 midfielder Will Smallbone made an impressive debut for the Saints in their vital 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
‘Shane has played himself right back into the reckoning at Southampton, not because of his two goals in recent weeks but because he is playing week-in and week-out,’ said McCarthy.
Along with Long, Callum Robinson, Scott Hogan and Alan Browne all scored at the weekend.
‘I can have no complaints about the flow of goals at present,’ said McCarthy who is upbeat about Enda Stevens’ availability for the Slovakia test after the Sheffield United full back picked up a calf strain last weekend.
‘Enda was taken off more as a precaution than anything else and Chris Wilder hopes to have him available for Saturday week.’