JAMES MCCLEAN’S CLUB future is shrouded in doubt after he was left out of Stoke’s pre-season training squad.
McClean is not among the 27 players named by manager Michael O’Neill for a six-day training camp in Belfast, which culminates in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Linfield.
The Irish international has also lost his number 11 squad number at the club, and has been reassigned number 30. McClean last night cryptically posted an Instagram photo of himself in Stoke gear along with the caption, ‘Beg me.’
McClean joined Stoke from West Brom in 2018, and has made more than 100 appearances for the club. He missed much of the latter half of last season through injury, however, with O’Neill publicly bemoaning his decision to play three times for Ireland in March.
Having missed five weeks of club action through injury, McClean nonetheless played in all three of Ireland’s games against Serbia, Luxembourg and Qatar, with O’Neill subsequently saying he was “disappointed” with how the situation was handled. Ruled out once again by injury, McClean played just a further 19 minutes of action across the rest of the season.
Earlier in the season, Stoke suspended McClean for one game after he was found to have breached Covid protocols by training in a private gym.
McClean is not the only senior player to be excluded from the camp: Sam Vokes, Tom Ince, and Lee Gregory are also out. Welsh internationals Joe Allen and Adam Davies have been included in spite of being involved in the European Championships.
A fantastic performance by connacht. It’d be great to see Tom farrell get a shot for Ireland in the November tests, he just looks a superior all round 13 to both Chris farrell and ringrose
@Tim Magner: a baller
@Tim Magner: He has to be in the conversation now at least. I still think with Ireland we don’t pick players to exploit opposition weaknesses enough. Between the 5 lads (including Aki and Henshaw) there’s a serious combination of skills.
@Cian Nolan: daly aswell looks a class act, mccloskey and Hume up North, its an embarrassment of riches. And frawley as a 12 could be anything
Headline sums it up really. Shakey start but Connacht were by far the better team. Hansen got mom but really should have gone to one of the back rowers for the first half performance. Butler, Papalii and especially Prendergast were superb. Great game to watch.
@Ro Molloy: It could have been given to any number of players. Carty was excellent again with incredibly quick hands and he shipped a couple of heavy hits by bravely taking the ball to the line. Both centres were top drawer aswell. Prendergast just keeps getting better and better but the rest of the pack put in a Trojan shift too, the starting props were particularly impressive.
@Max Power:
Carty defence has improved. He is looking good at the moment, he will be asking questions this year again
After the first 15 minutes, this was the best performance from Connacht i have seen in a long time, no silly penalties, ball placement after the tackle first class, ball handling great, defensive maul good.Saw then last when they were rushing everything and made a few mistakes which cost them the game, but today so many of them played brilliantly, great to see O’Halloran starting to look his old self. Can somebody inform me what has Marmion has done to the irish team management.
@Michael Colleary: he’s not from Leinster or Munster ?
Great game to watch. Brilliant top photo
Sort forward Mach Hanson, has to be in my top 5 tries of all time.
Heard O’Driscoll today talk about 10s taking it to the line and risking getting smashed
Carty did that all night long. Great game
After 10 mins, I said it to my lads, when Carty is in that sort of form he is one of the best 10s in the country, he was so aggressive in the tackle, his hands were superb and his kick from hand was top class.the pack and sub forwards were immense I also thought 9 10 11 12 13 were phenomenal
@Pol O’Broin: you must have missed him kicking out on the full. He played well but his kicking was a bit iffy.
@Trevor Johnston: Shaky performance by the team over all in the first quarter. Carty was peerless after that. He kicked everything from the tee until the last couple of tries when the game was won. His non-selection for Ireland is baffling.
The bulls were dreadful.
I thought Daly and Prendergast had great a game. Either really could have gotten motm. This was a really big step up from last weeks debacle. Daly was fantastic last week too, perhaps the only standout player for Connacht last week.
However, I can’t stop there all the lads put in a shift and great to see TOH on fire. One of his best games in a while. When TOH is on fire he’s amazing to watch.
Overall the best thing is the team redeemed themselves, that’s the important thing. It’s not how many times you fall, it’s how you get back up! Connacht lit up the west last night…. Looking forward to seeing their next game!
@Con Cussed: sums up a great display.
Also big props to the ref. Let a lot go but let it go for both sides which added to a free flowing game.
Makes a change from a lot of refereeing we have seen over the lockdown
Liked them way he played the crowd too for Hanson’s try too