MET LIFE’S GOOD
James excited by New York return
BACK in his Derry City days, little did James Mcclean realise how significant the Metlife Stadium would be in his career.
He scored his first Irish goal at the New Jersey venue in 2014 when the Republic of Ireland were hammered 5-1 in a friendly by Portugal.
That result and the 3-0 defeat to Belgium at the European Championships last summer are the only games in which O’neill’s team has lost by more than one goal.
In the early hours of Friday morning, Mcclean will return to the Metlife and captain his country on his 50th cap.
And the 28-year-old does so as one of the experienced players in the squad, one who has stepped up to be the talisman of the World Cup campaign so far.
Yesterday, Mcclean and his team-mates were put through their paces at the New York Red Bulls’ complex in Whippany, New Jersey. A pungent waft of manure filled the air from nearby fields as Ireland trained on one pitch and the MLS stars on another.
It has been a whirlwind six years since Mcclean quit Derry City for Sunderland initially and then Wigan and West Brom.
Asked what his ambitions were back in his Candystripes days, Mcclean said yesterday: “You have ambition and then you have realistic ambition.
“I wanted to play at the highest level. If you say you’re playing with Derry for all your career, it’s where I’m from, it means so much to me.
“And that would have been great but you strive every day to be the best you can be. I push myself and challenge myself to see how far I can go. I won’t get carried away until the team is named but if it’s the case I win my 50th cap, I’d be delighted.”
Pinpointing his career highlights, Mcclean said: “Obviously my debut and my first goal. If you had told me that the Metlife Stadium would end up being an important place in terms of my career I’d probably have laughed at you.
“But that’s just the way it’s gone and I’m over the moon. To get 50 caps is some achievement and I’d be very proud of it and my family would be too.”
Mcclean’s three goals in the last three qualifiers have Ireland joint top of Group D as they chase down their World Cup dream.
He turned a sticky night in Moldova on its head with a second half brace and then sank Austria with the only goal in Vienna (inset).
But it’s the famous Euro 2016 win over Italy in Lille that Mcclean credits for his fine form in the green shirt. It’s been a good year and getting picked for that game against Italy – given the magnitude of it – really gave me a lot of confidence. Particularly so with the way that game went. I’ve pushed on from then. I always want to play from the start, whether it’s here or at club level.
“I just want to play and now I’ve been given that chance here by the manager. I feel important and as a footballer that’s key – if you feel important, you’re going to take a lot of confidence from that.”
Curiously, Mcclean was unable to kick on at West Brom after scoring that winner for Ireland in Vienna last November. He started just four of 28 games for the Baggies that he was available for – and he is not one bit happy.
Mcclean said: “Make no mistake, I want to play week in, week out. I’m not happy just being an impact sub and I want that put on record.
“I was playing at the start of the season, playing well, scoring goals, feeling good and then I got a suspension for one game.
“I came into international duty and went back with confidence but the team were playing well. Players in my spot were doing well, it was frustrating, disappointing but you can either sulk or get on with it.
“It wasn’t an ideal season but it was a good season as a club.”