McCLEAN COMPLETES £5M MOVE TO POTTERS

JAMES McCLEAN has completed his move from West Bromwich Albion to Stoke City for an initial fee of £5m.

The 29-year-old Republic of Ireland international has agreed a four-year deal with Stoke, who confirmed the final transfer fee could reach £6m.

McClean (right), who has made 59 senior appearances for Ireland, arrived in England in 2011 when Sunderland signed him from Derry City.

He moved on to Wigan two years later and West Brom paid £1.5m to take him to The Hawthorns in August 2015.

“James is a player I’ve admired for a long time,” said Stoke boss Gary Rowett. “Every time I’ve watched him play I’ve always been impressed by how hard he worked.

“I’ve spoken to lads who have played with him before, the likes of Darren Fletcher, and they have all said that he’s a great guy to have around the dressing room and he’s really popular with his team-mates.”

Both Stoke and West Brom were relegated to the Championship last season.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Colin Doyle insists that he is up for the fight after joining Hearts.

Doyle, 33, who has signed a two-year deal with the Jambos, will fight it out with Zdenek Zlamal to be the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.

“It can only bring the best out of you. That’s what you want, you want to be tested,” said Doyle, who was with Bradford for the last two seasons, having spent the previous 12 years with Brimingham.

“You want competition for places. You don’t want to think you’re coming as a number one and you’re in the team for the whole season and you’re not at threat of losing. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”