50-cap Mcclean hits out at players who dodge international friendlies

James Mcclean, who will win his 50th Republic of Ireland cap against Mexico, has railed against players who put club before country.

The 28-year-old West Brom winger has established himself as a regular in Martin O’neill’s team in the last year or so, and in particular during the ongoing qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup finals.

However, he cannot understand how other players can pass up the chance to represent their country.

Asked why he had reported for duty in the United States when most of his Premier League counterparts are only joining up back in Dublin at the weekend, Mcclean said with a smile: “My wife got bored of me, so she wanted to get rid of me. Joking aside, I want to play for my country and I want to get as many caps as possible. If I am fit and feeling good, then I want to play.

“Without singling too many players out, there have been players in the past who pulled out of games with injuries, but always seem to be fit for their club side on the Saturday.

“It annoys me very much, I am not going to lie.

“Go and play, be delighted to pull on the jersey, be proud to be there and if you don’t want to be here, don’t be there.”

O’neill has already indicated that Mcclean will captain the team at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey during the early hours of Friday morning, although the man himself is taking nothing for granted.

He said: “That would be a great honour but the game isn’t until Thursday, so until he names the team officially, I’m not going to get carried away with myself.”

0 James Mcclean: Captaincy.