James McClean was included in the Martin O'Neill's 39 man provisional squad earlier today ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Wales and friendly with Iceland. Wales come to Dublin on the 24th of March as the Boys in Green look to maintain their unbeaten start to the qualifying campaign.
The Republic of Ireland are top of group D thanks to their 1-0 win away Austria in November. McClean scored the only goal that night to follow up the double he got away to Moldova in October.
McClean has only started one Premier League game for West Brom since the win in Vienna. The Derry midfielder was a regular under Tony Pulis at the start of the season but he got suspended after picking up five yellow cards by the end of October. McClean hadn't been able to force his way back into the starting 11 in the league until last Saturday when he was given a start on the left wing away to Everton.
Martin O'Neill was asked about McClean not getting much game time at his club over the last few months. The Ireland boss says McClean is the type of player that will maintain his good performances in the green jersey regardless of his situation at club level:
Martin O'Neill is not the first person to highlight the fitness levels of McClean. West Brom captain Darren Fletcher recently told FourFourTwo that McClean was " probably the fittest guy I've ever come across in football. I've played with a lot fit players. I used to think of myself back in the day as one of the fittest box to box but I think James would blow me out the water. Speed and unbelievable endurance he really is a freak and another one who works incredibly hard at it. "
We covered the Everton and West Brom game on Premier League Live as McClean went up against his international team-mate Seamus Coleman. McClean was taken off 15 minutes from time in a game Everton won 3-0.
Brian Kerr was in the commentary box for us at Goodison Park and here's what he made of the Coleman v McClean battle:
Jon Walters was our hero in the Euro 2016 qualifiers and so far in this campaign James McClean has taken the mantle so hopefully we'll see more of the same at the Aviva Stadium on March 24th.
The game on Friday week is sold out but there will be a chance to win two tickets on Premier League Live this Saturday on Today FM.
