McClean surpassing expectations and knocking on Trap's door

By Colin Young

Published: 14:17 EST, 4 May 2012 | Updated: 14:17 EST, 4 May 2012

Extended run: James McClean not frightened to take on defenders

The tiny County Durham mining village of Hetton-le-Hole has a long and proud association with the game of football.

It is the birthplace of Bob Paisley, arguably the greatest manager in the English game, of local hero Bryan 'Pop' Robson' (the older version who dared to play and work for both Sunderland and Newcastle), and of the former Burnley boss Harry Potts and his old friend, Spurs legend Ralph Coates.

The pitheads which once dominated the skyline round the town have long since disappeared, but hidden behind the rows of colliery bungalows which are still very much in use are the floodlights and pylons of Eppleton Colliery Welfare FC's ground.

Welfare Park is also the home of Sunderland reserve matches.

And it is birthplace of one of this season's real sensations in the Barclays Premier League, and possibly this summer's European Championship finals, Derry's very own James McClean.

McClean had done months of ground work for Sunderland's second string at Eppleton, under the command of Keith Bertschin, the former Norwich striker who had, among others, taken the raw youngster under his wing.

'What I loved about him from day one was that he was so hungry, keen, athletic and strong,' said Bertschin.

 

'He was always a threat and played with a spring in his step and he was a breath of fresh air to deal with.

'Sometimes we get lost in the wonderful training grounds, the terrific salaries, even for younger players, but this boy came from a league where there wasn't a lot of money, and you could see he really loved the game and his prime objective was to be a Premier League footballer.

Snow joke: McClean (left) was on the mark against Stoke City

'That was his one aim and he wanted to do his absolute best in front of every coach in every game and training session.'

Recommended by Pop Robson in his capacity as Steve Bruce's chief scout, signed by Bruce and, underwritten by Niall Quinn, the former Derry City winger was starting to demonstrate his talent and appetite for the game in Bruce's final days as manager.

He was on the bench for his last two games, but under pressure, and failing to win games, Bruce had decided not to throw him in.

Martin O'Neill had no such fears. Bruce's successor had not even put his framed family portraits on his new desk at Sunderland's training ground when he travelled to Hetton-le-Hole for the first time on a cold and blustery December night.

Euro star: Giovanni Trapattoni expected to use McClean in the European Championships

He was still trying to remember the names of some of his new players he had met for the first time earlier that day. Among them, and from his own town, was McClean.

'I didn't know anything about him,' O'Neill recalled this week.

'That night at Eppleton was the first night I had seen him apart from a few days training and it was clear he's just a lad who likes to get the ball down and go at players.'

Five days later, his team toiling to break down a stubborn, Chris Samba-led back nine against Blackburn, O'Neill went where Bruce had feared to go, turned to McClean on the bench.

McClean through: Blackburn's player Mauro Formica (left) struggles to contain the Sunderland sensation

Four direct runs past full-back Jason Lowe later and it was clear Sunderland, and O'Neill, had unleashed a star on the Premier League.

O'Neill said: 'He has had an amazing time since Christmas, stepping into the team, particularly when he came on against Blackburn and electrified the crowd.

'When you throw in a player like him you are looking for a spark. The first time he got the ball, he went at his man and took him on. But what if the full-back had put the block on him? Would he have lost his confidence? I don't think he would have done.

'He is just one of those lads who likes to get at them.

High praise: Martin O'Neill

'He has not allowed his performances to dip too much and he has surpassed expectation. He has three and a half months of excellence behind him and he may well have surprised himself with his consistency.

'Players who go past people are so rare. That is why he has made a massive impact and he is encouraged by me to go past players.

'There are times when he has to make the simple pass. That is only on for him to get another angle and to have another go at players.'

Four months on from that dismal night near Durham, and his club manager is certain McClean could be a sensation on the international stage and should be part of Giovanni Trapattoni's Euro 2012 squad.

He is also convinced, with his commitment to defending as much as terrorising full-backs, that he can fit into Trap's conservative way of thinking.

'James is the best in the business at defending,' O'Neill said. 'I could play left-back with him in front of me. I would have a big cigar out there and I'd love having him 20 yards in front of me. I'm actually thinking of making a comeback.

'There has to be a possibility of breaking into the Ireland team. Their manager has done a great job to get them to the finals and he will pick who he wants and stay loyal to those who got them there. Trapattoni will go with tried and trusted players who have eked out results for him.

'But there is scope for him to break through. He could make a contribution, even off the bench and he would certainly not be out of place. He could make a mark on that competition.

'He would be in a close knit environment for a number of weeks dealing with a very good coach. He would be in the mix and involved in a tournament second only to the World Cup.

'For one so young and this time last year plying his trade in the league of Ireland it could not be so explosive for him. Given a chance to play a part he could do very well I sense that. It would not phase him. He would absolutely not be out of place.

'And if he is not chosen I would not be too downhearted and it would give him time to reflect on what he can achieve next year.'