CAST WON’T ARM NATIONS SHOWDOWNS

JAMES Mcclean is still getting used to the “restricting” cast on his arm – but insists he’ll have no issues with it against Denmark on Saturday.

Mcclean was forced to miss the Nations League opener in Wales after suffering a broken wrist.

The match-winner in Cardiff in a crucial World

Cup qualifier, above, was missed last month as Ireland fell to a 4-1 defeat.

“I just fell in training, like you do all the time,” said Mcclean. “It was a collision but then I landed straight on it.”

Pointing to the arm, he said: “Cracked that bone and cracked that bone, and here we are.”

Not surprisingly, the cast is green.

“I couldn’t have a green shirt and a big blue cast, could I? So I thought why not match it up with a green cast,” he grinned. “The red for Stoke is underneath.

‘I’m not really used to it, it still feels a bit restricting and that’s annoying.

“It is what it is. But if you’d told me at the time that I’d be playing four weeks to the day, I’d have snapped your hand off.”

The 29-year-old has played in Stoke’s last two games – two victories – and is ready. “I have a soft cast underneath it,” he said.

“It’s not the most protective thing in the world, but if it gets me playing then that’s all that matters.

“I’ve had tackles the last few games and I’ve learnt how to fall on it now, so there are no issues.”