THIS TIME FOUR years ago, James McClean could hardly believe his luck.
Under Martin O’Neill, the then 24-year-old had just burst onto the scene at club level with Sunderland having sealed a move from Derry City the previous summer.
After making his Premier League debut in December, the winger would go on to play 30 times for the Black Cats in the second half of the season — scoring six goals.
That impact prompted calls for McClean’s inclusion in the Ireland squad and he had earned just two international caps when Giovanni Trapattoni named him as a bolter in his squad for Euro 2012.
He would make one appearance in Poland as a 76th-minute substitute in the 4-0 defeat to eventual winners Spain.
Fast-forward to June 2016 and McClean, plying his trade at West Brom these days, is an established member of Ireland’s squad with 38 appearances to his name.
“I feel a lot more part of it than four years ago,” he said today. “I never played a second in the qualifying games and I had two caps before the tournament had started.
I was new to it all and I was disappointed I didn’t play more than I did. Now I’ve played the qualifying campaign and I’ve got nearly 40 caps under my belt now, so I feel more mature as a player and a person going into this tournament.”
After suffering three back-to-back defeats at Euro 2012, a number of the players have since come out to question Trap’s regimental approach to preparing for the tournament.
McClean doesn’t go along with that viewpoint, however.
“I don’t think the preparation was too bad, to be honest,” he added. “I was lucky enough to be a part of it and we prepared right, but it just wasn’t meant to be. We were in a very tough group and we didn’t get going.
“It has been very good here so hopefully the results and the performances are better than 2012.”
In Sweden, Belgium and Italy, Ireland face one of the most difficult groups at the first 24-team edition of the European championships, but having popped up with late goals in qualifying, McClean says they can take huge confidence into the tournament.
“We took four points from the world champions in qualifying,” he explains. “It wasn’t easy by any stretch but we’ll fear no one.
“We’re in a tough group, like we were four years ago. This time we’ve a young squad and a real togetherness. I’m not saying there wasn’t in 2012 but there is a strong character and bond in this squad and hopefully we can get better results.”
Whether as a starter or from the bench, McClean has become known for putting in some crunching tackles in a green shirt.
His commitment isn’t in question but he will need to be careful he doesn’t overstep the mark and earn himself a red card in France.
Just this week, Roy Keane spoke about players pulling out of tackles and you get the sense McClean would never be in danger of that.
“I think if that’s the mentality you go into games with then you’ll probably pick up an injury,” McClean replied, when asked about striking a balance. “I just go in and play the game like it is, without thinking beyond that.
That’s just me speaking personally, I can’t speak for everyone. I play the game as if I’m playing any game no matter what’s coming up or not coming up.”
The assistant manager also suggested that he’d like to see more of an end product from McClean in front of goal, and the player would love to add to his tally over the next month.
“It’s something you always work on (finishing) and if you can get as many goals and assists as possible you know that it’s going to bode well results-wise.
“I’ve been lucky enough to get five international goals but hopefully I can add a few more to that in the next couple of weeks.”
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