Comment: Embracing the rough to get the smooth is best way of harnessing James McClean

One minute the stands will be full of fans punching the air in support after a 50-yard sprint chasing down a lost cause.

The next minute those same supporters will be turning the air blue after McClean lunges into an unnecessary challenge.

He’s a man who plays so near the edge it’s a surprise he doesn’t get vertigo.

This week, his merits have been brought to the fore once more. His superb winner against Wales with his weaker foot sent a whole nation into delirium and cemented his place among Irish folklore.

Martin O’Neill hailed him as the country’s talisman, and no wonder.

His three winners in World Cup qualifiers have given the Republic of Ireland a chance of reaching Russia and he now has 10 goals in his last 33 international appearances. It’s a return many strikers would be happy with.

Unfortunately, he’s never managed to hit the same heights with Albion. Four goals from 84 appearances in Baggies colours proves that.

There are several reasons behind this. Not only does McClean start most of Ireland’s games while Pulis has recently preferred him from the bench, the quality of opponent at international level is not as high as the Premier League.

And O’Neill tailors his team to McClean. He is one of the main attacking outlets for Ireland, the man they look to spring away on the counter attack.

Matt Phillips has been that man for Pulis, who has preferred Jay Rodriguez’s goal threat or Chris Brunt’s experience on the left so far this season.

But McClean’s international form could benefit the Baggies if he's allowed to be himself.

Despite Pulis joking that he wouldn’t play him again after knocking Wales out of World Cup contention, Monday’s game with Leicester may be the perfect time to reintroduce a giddy McClean riding high on his international exploits.

Phillips has had a slow start to the season and Burke is yet to feature, making the Irish international the in-form winger in the squad. The sticking point in Pulis’s mind may be his last action in an Albion shirt.

It was McClean’s late lunging tackle on Richarlison that gave away a needless free-kick that Watford equalised from, making it six games without a win and heaping more pressure on Welshman.

Even though Pulis refused to dig out his player afterwards, blaming the referee instead for giving the foul and playing too much added time, it was still an unnecessary challenge from a hot head prone to such mistakes.

The worrying thing is, McClean doesn’t seem to learn from them. Any Albion fan who watched the showdown in Cardiff will have been screaming at the television when he gave away a similar free-kick in a similar position in the last minute of injury time.

Fortunately for Ireland, Tom Lawrence blasted it out of play, but in the Premier League, those errors are punished more regularly.

However, removing McClean’s uniquely fervent enthusiasm would diminish his game, even kill the entire identity that endears him to Albion fans.

Alongside Craig Dawson, he was one of the squad’s most improved players last season, and one of the few able to hold his head high during the disappointing run-in. But still, the goals and assists eluded him.

Watching him for Ireland suggests there is an effective and clinical player underneath the surface that can be developed at The Hawthorns.

Based on his international exploits it seems the best way to get the most out of McClean is to embrace his passion, rather than shackle it.

All players have limitations, and the majority can be changed, but McClean's pitfall is also his greatest asset.

In order to get some of his smooth finishing, Albion need to accept some of his rough edges.