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STOKE CITY MANAGER Michael O’Neill has expressed his satisfaction with the contribution of James McClean, while simultaneously identifying areas for improvement in the Republic of Ireland international.
McClean has been a key player for the English Championship club since O’Neill was appointed boss in November.
The Derry-born winger was also at the centre of controversy last month when he was fined two weeks’ wages by Stoke as a result of an ill-advised Instagram post.
However, he has since been making headlines for his generosity amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. McClean made a significant donation to The Donna Louise Trust – a charity in Stoke that cares for children with life-limiting conditions – as well as purchasing PPE (personal protective equipment) for a medical practice in Derry.
O’Neill told the Stoke Sentinel that he’s enjoying working with a player he first encountered when they were both in the League of Ireland.
“For me, James hasn’t been a difficult player to manage at all,” said the 50-year-old, who also remains in charge of Northern Ireland until the European Championship campaign concludes.
“We obviously come from the same part of the world and I knew James way back. I saw James develop as a youngster at Derry City when I was manager of Shamrock Rovers.
“I remember him coming into the team as a strong, powerful young boy and having a decent impact right away. I’ve followed his career with great interest and seen how well he’s done.”
McClean in possession during Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Denmark in November.
Source: Niall Carson
Following O’Neill’s appointment at Stoke, McClean chipped in with four goals and five assists before suffering a knee injury in a game against Preston North End in February.
“James is such a willing, whole-hearted player, he just at times needs a little bit of guidance,” O’Neill added. “James plays at almost full throttle the whole game and, for me, it’s about taking him away from that a little bit so he’s not always at that point in time.
“I look at how he got hurt in the Preston game, for example, and it’s probably a tackle he doesn’t need to make. He just maybe needs to control his emotions a bit better on the pitch.