For a change we get to talk about something James McClean has done on the pitch.
The Ireland winger is facing a ban for his tackle on Saturday that left Bournemouth’s Adam Smith in a crumpled heap on the ground in the 2-1 win over West Brom.
But unfortunately McClean didn’t last the entire game as he was sent off for the wild tackle that has left Smith a very angry man.
Smith, who almost took the full force of McClean’s studs to his upper leg, has claimed today that the challenge could have left him with a long term injury.
“He could have broken my leg. Personally I thought it was a very dangerous challenge.”
“I could see out of the corner of my eye that he was sprinting towards me so I knocked the ball and as I knocked the ball I jumped because I knew he was going to come for me.
“It was lucky I did because if my leg was standing I could have been hurt. I don’t know but he could have done a lot of damage. It was right in my shin and it was hard as well but luckily I jumped out of the way.”
McClean and Smith were involved in an incident just a few seconds earlier in the game, but Smith doesn’t think it warranted the challenge on his leg,
“I don’t really know what happened before. Maybe he thought I fouled him, I don’t really know. It was a 50-50 and maybe I caught him, I don’t know.”
Tony Pulis promised to discipline McClean after the game with some reports suggesting he may have to pay two weeks wages, or around £50,000 after the incident left him with a three match ban.
