Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MCCLEAN ON ME
James to captain country on 50th cap after putting hand up for tour
JAMES MCCLEAN will skipper Ireland for the first time on Thursday after volunteering his services in the US. The friendly against Mexico at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey will be Mcclean’s 50th senior cap and he’ll mark that milestone by leading the Republic onto the pitch. With Seamus Coleman put on the long-term injury list during the March qualifier against Wales, the armband went to Robbie Brady for the Iceland friendly just a few days later. But Ireland’s only Premier League representatives from last season in America will be Mcclean and Darron Randolph. And Mcclean, the most experienced international present, will captain his country for the first time after what Martin O’neill describes as a maturing process has taken him away from the hothead reputation he developed when he first arrived in England. “His experience shouldn’t necessarily mean he should be the captain,” said O’neill. “James and I will have to discuss that but he’s a possibility. “I think that it would be worthwhile doing it. It is his 50th, isn’t it? “James will think he’s nailed on for it – James would think that. “But yeah, if he starts the game I’m sure he will be captain. For the 50th, for a start, and because he’s got that great discipline about him which he just exudes whenever he plays!” Now 28, Mcclean’s discipline has long been the source of debate but after his tongue in cheek comment, O’neill praised the Derry man’s willingness to tackle that issue. “He’s matured as a player, no question,” said the manager. “He’s thinking more about it rather than just a naturalness. He’s actually thinking about his game. “The minute we lose the ball he takes up some great defensive positions. “Now he needs to know when to go from that defensive position, go to the man who’s most dangerous. “That’s the kind of thing he has to learn in the game. But he’s trying to do that at club level. “For us, his attitude to want to play for us is very infectious. There’s a great enthusiasm about him and it rubs off on the others.” Mcclean has scored three times in this qualification campaign – twice against Moldova and the winner in Austria – and has become a more and more influential player in O’neill’s system. That fully committed approach was evident in Mcclean putting his hand up to travel to the States. “He did, yes,” said O’neill. “He wanted to come and I’m delighted. “I wasn’t really surprised. In fact I’d have been surprised if he didn’t want to do it.” Mcclean is needed for a more defensive role against Mexico due to the lack of a recognised left-back among the 19 players who flew to the States yesterday. O’neill is looking at experimenting with three centre-backs in New Jersey. With Ciaran Clark and Shane Duffy needing game time, the manager could hand Kevin Long his debut. “It might just be that opportunity to play three at the back, so that it’s not foreign to them if you were changing systems during the Austria game,” said O’neill.
James will think he’s nailed on for it - Martin O’neill