We don’t know if it was yesterday’s goal that did it but reports today suggest James McClean will be named in the next Republic of Ireland squad.
The Derry man had two problems to overcome; Giovanni Trapattoni’s apparent reluctance to try new players so close to the Euros and the completion of his paperwork allowing him to play for the FA rather than the IFA.
According to today’s Sunday Independent, the FAI are “optimistic” that the forms will be cleared by Fifa this week, allowing McClean to be named in Trap’s squad on Friday.
The Sunderland winger has been a Premier League sensation since he was given his debut by Martin O’Neill, and his selection would give Trap a very pleasant headache on the left wing, with Damien Duff Aiden McGeady and Stephen Hunt all battling for a spot there.
The game against Czech Republic is not until February 29 so even if all the paperwork is not completed by Fifa this week, he could still be named so long as everything is in order by match day.
McClean’s form means he deserves at least a cameo at Aviva at the end of the month, if not a start. All we need now then is a certain Italian to give him a shot.
