James McClean maturing nicely, says Martin O'Neill ahead of 50th cap

The 28-year-old made himself available for a low-key international friendly with Mexico in New Jersey this Friday morning, and could be rewarded for his enthusiasm with the captain’s armband on what will be his 50th cap.

Although McClean made 36 appearances for the Baggies in the season just gone, he only started 15 games as he jostled for places out wide with Nacer Chadli, Matt Phillips, and Chris Brunt.

However, the former Sunderland man impressed with his performances, particularly towards the end of the campaign when he stood out during the team’s poor run of form after Phillips fell injured.

And O’Neill, who is the first Ireland manager to pick McClean regularly, has seen an improvement too.

“He’s matured as a player, no question about that,” O'Neill told the Irish press. “He’s thinking more about it, about his game, rather than having a naturalness about it.

“The minute we lose the ball he takes up some great defensive positions.

“Now he needs to know when to go from that defensive position to the man who’s the most dangerous, that’s the thing he has to learn. He’s trying to do it at club level and for us.”

However, becoming more positionally aware is not bottling up one of McClean’s greatest assets, his desire, which can also occasionally be a weakness too.

A pacy winger who plays on the edge, sometimes that passion spills over when tempers flare.

Only Craig Dawson, who missed just one game, picked up as many as 10 yellow cards for the Baggies like McClean last season.

But O’Neill sees his relentless work ethic as a tool to be harnessed and celebrated.

“His attitude is very infectious,” said his fellow Ulsterman. “There’s a great enthusiasm about him, I genuinely think it rubs off on the other players.”

McClean went on holiday to Dubai with his wife Erin after the season finished but has now flown over to the United States of America ahead of the match with Mexico which kicks off at 1am on Friday morning UK time.

O’Neill was impressed with his willingness to play in the USA, particularly because Ireland have another friendly on Sunday against Uruguay at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

“I know he hasn’t started some of the more recent games for West Brom, but he’s a really fit lad,” said O’Neill. “I thought he might want a break, but he wanted to come. So, delighted.

“I wasn’t really surprised – I might even have been surprised if he didn’t want to come.

“But when I asked him he said he wanted to get the 50th cap – I hadn’t realised it was 49 he’d played.”

Because usual skipper Seamus Coleman and deputy Robbie Brady are both unavailable for Friday’s match with Mexico, O’Neill has to give the captain’s armband to somebody new.

“James and I will have to discuss it, but he’s a possibility,” he admitted, before adding jokingly, “It’s his 50th cap, for a start, and because he’s got that great discipline about him.”

“He’ll think he’s nailed on for it, you know. If he starts the game, he will be considered.”