McClean has chance to shine

THE COUNTDOWN has begun.

In 16 days time the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 campaign will begin when they face Croatia in Poznan. This week, Irish fans have been keeping the candles lit and the rosary beads close by with news filtering out of Gannon Park, Malahide about a number of injury worries in the camp - not least Shay Given who suffered a knee injury on Monday.
 

At this stage of campaigns, every cough brings with it a ‘worry’ sign, particularly with players like Given, John O’Shea and Richard Dunne. Giovanni Trapattoni has had the players in camp for the best part of a week now and on Sunday they head to Italy for another week-long camp, as Trap’s efforts in working on those ‘little details’ he reminds us are so important steps up.
 

The so-called fringe members of the squad are all guns blazing trying to impress Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli, but the Irish manager has already proven during his tenure that he’s a stubborn disciple of retaining the tried and trusted and it’s unlikely that the Italian will throw a curve ball into the mix for his team selection at the finals.
 

There has been a clamour for the inclusion in the first XI of Derryman James McClean, but he heads into tomorrow’s friendly with Bosnia with just eleven minutes of senior international football behind him following a cameo role as a sub in February’s draw with Czech Republic.
 

McClean has been in the limelight since bursting into Sunderland’s first team in December. A year ago, he was playing in the League of Ireland with Derry City; next month he’ll be part of the Republic of Ireland squad at the European finals.
 

It’s fair to say that the energetic winger now faces perhaps the biggest battle of his career.
 

Last month, the player was forced to shut down his Twitter account after being named in the Irish squad.
 

McClean tweeted after being named in the squad: “Absolutely honoured and couldn't be happier to have been called up to represent my country at the Euros. No better feeling.”
 

And he later responded to abusive tweets from Northern Irish folk: “Love the dogs' abuse am gettin off shock N.I fans, just worry about watchin ur own country at the euros... oh wait #mybad #awkward haha.”
 

McClean played seven times for the Northern Ireland U21s before changing allegiance. His delirious reaction to being selected in the Irish squad prompted an angry response from some north of the border. One of the terrible responses told McClean that he ‘deserved to be shot’ and another vowed to ‘make sure you get shot’.
 

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill had previously requested that McClean stopped tweeting and the reaction last month prompted the player to shut down his account and stop the trolls.
 

As he heads into Euro 2012, McClean, it could be said, faces an even bigger battle now - to win a place in Trap’s first eleven.
 

“McClean has played well, we have seen that many times,” the Italian said. “But we have a system, and here he can see what we are asking of him because the solution for us is different to the one at his club.
 

“He is a good player and a strong personality, but he needs to work with us to understand what we want.”
 

Marco Tardelli, too, has said that McClean ‘needs to learn many things’ and despite the public’s incessant calls for the Creggan man to be included it appears as if Trap will, as he has said, stick to those players who have been ‘loyal’ in qualification.
 

Aiden McGeady is one of those whose place would be under threat were McClean to force his way in - and the CSKA Moscow player has said that he’ll not be giving up his spot without a fight.
 

McGeady said: “Myself and ‘Duffer’ (Damien Duff) didn't play in most of the games to go: ‘Ah, no problem. Listen, you just take my place on the wing for the Euros’.
 

“That's football for you. You are always going to have competition and players are going to be coming up and playing well at club level and getting thrust into the limelight.
 

“But I suppose it's my job to maintain a performance where I can be playing every game, and it's his job to try to catch the manager's eye and fight myself or fight Duffer for a place. That's the way football is.”
 

Tomorrow, McClean has been given a chance to shine by Trap. It’s one he must grab with both hands, for Trap isn’t likely to turn him into a Steven Reid. Ten years ago, Reid was at Gatwick Airport one morning, holiday-bound, when he checked his phone one final time before departing. Mick McCarthy had left a message: He was going to the World Cup. Reid took Mark Kennedy’s place in the squad and he played twice, as a sub against Cameroon and Germany.

Trap’s selections and tactics are rigid and despite McClean’s excellent club form with Sunderland, it could all boil down to how he performs at the Aviva tomorrow - even then it mightn’t be enough to win over the Italian.