JAMES MCCLEAN THINKS that Jack Grealish shouldn’t play for Ireland if he doesn’t want to.
The young Aston Villa playmaker’s international future has been the topic of tense debate after he passed up the opportunity to be a part of the latest Ireland squad.
McClean was speaking to BBC Radio Foyle in Northern Ireland last night during a trip home to Derry and said, “If you don’t want to play for a country then you shouldn’t play for them.
Look, I’m sure the lad will make whatever decision he makes. I love playing for my country and all the rest of the lads do who play there. If anyone doesn’t want to play then so be it. Go and play for someone else, that’s my view of it.
McClean also gave an insight into his own plans for the summer months revealing that he has plenty of options after his club Wigan were relegated from the Championship. The former Derry City winger played up front for large parts of this season, scoring nine goals and receiving Wigan’s player of the year award.
“I’m fortunate to have quite a number of options but just for me at the minute I’m enjoying my time at home and letting other people take care of that stuff and do their job,” he said.
I’ve just turned 26 so this next move is going to be the most crucial of my career. There won’t be any rushed decisions.
Speculation was rife that McClean was on course for a move to the MLS this summer but revealed he has his heart set on returning to the Premier League some day.
“I share the same ambition as every player and I want to play at the top level. It would be great to play in the Premier League again. I have nothing to prove to nobody else, only to prove to myself,” he said.
The Derry man also stressed the need for Ireland to beat Scotland at the Aviva in June, saying that without victory there will be no Irish team at France 2016.
“If we don’t win, I think we can kiss goodbye to France. It’s something to look forward to.
“Look, we didn’t perform in Scotland and we know that but we have a chance to make amends now and if we get three points it would set us up nicely and give us a real chance of getting to France.”