McClean wings way into Ireland squad
Reuters - Monday 07 May 2012, 16:09
Sunderland winger James McClean's
sparkling form in the second half of this season earned him an
Ireland call for Euro 2012 when coach Giovanni Trapattoni named
his 23-man squad on Monday.
McClean, 23, who had not played an English Premier League
game when Ireland beat Estonia in November to reach their first
major finals in a decade, has been instrumental in Sunderland's
recent climb up the table.
The Northern Ireland-born player was given a standing
ovation after making his international debut in a friendly
against Czech Republic in Dublin in February.
"He's young, he's physically strong and he's improved... I
think he can give us energy," Trapattoni told a news conference.
McClean is unlikely to start ahead of first-choice wingers
Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady but could make an impact off the
bench at next month's tournament.
Wigan Athletic midfielder James McCarthy, who appeared to
have come into form at just the right time, pulled out of the
Irish selection process after his father was diagnosed with
cancer.
Trapattoni's squad will lean heavily on the experienced trio
of captain Robbie Keane, goalkeeper Shay Given and defender
Richard Dunne.
All three, together with Duff, featured in Ireland's last
major championship appearance 10 years ago when Spain knocked
them out of the World Cup in the round of 16.
The Irish will face world and European champions Spain again
next month in a tough Group C in Ukraine and Poland that also
includes Italy and Croatia.
"We will look to emulate the attitude and performance that
brought us qualification," said Trapattoni.
Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Aston Villa), Keiren Westwood
(Sunderland), David Forde (Millwall).
Defenders: John O'Shea (Sunderland), Richard Dunne (Aston
Villa), Sean St Ledger (Leicester City), Stephen Ward
(Wolverhampton Wanderers), Kevin Foley (Wolverhampton
Wanderers), Stephen Kelly (Fulham), Darren O'Dea (Celtic).
Midfielders: Keith Andrews (West Bromwich Albion), Glenn
Whelan (Stoke City), Darron Gibson (Everton), Damien Duff
(Fulham), Aiden McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Stephen Hunt
(Wolverhampton Wanderers), Keith Fahey (Birmingham City), James
McClean (Sunderland).
Forwards: Robbie Keane (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kevin Doyle
(Wolverhampton Wanderers), Simon Cox (West Bromwich Albion),
Jonathan Walters (Stoke City), Shane Long (West Bromwich Albion).