James McClean knows how to lift a crowd.
The Irishman was almost the sole reason behind the country’s inspirational revival against Poland back in March.
He was introduced just after hour mark and put in the best shift of his career to date. A hair-raising shift that all started with a mincing challenge that blew the roof off of the Aviva stands.
And he would do it all again. Becuase that’s what he does.
“I was just playing my normal game,” he said. “I think I’ve got something like 13 bookings this season at club level, I think that speaks for itself. It’s just my normal game. I just came on and tried to do my job as best as possible.
“I’ll play my normal game again. The way the sport’s gone now, if you look at someone the wrong way, you’ll get a yellow card but I’ll play my normal game. If there’s a tackle to be made, I’ll make it. If there’s a cross to be put in, I’ll put a cross in.”
McClean’s workrate and commitment to his country has marked him out as a fan favourite and his former club manager, Martin O’Neill, is a fan of his as well. Should the Derry man play on Saturday, the Irish full backs know that they won’t be hung out to dry.
“It’s very important in the modern game [to get back]. It’s a team game, it’s not about yourself, so if you have to cover back and pick up your man then so be it. If it’s helping the team, then it bodes well towards a good result.
“I’m really desperate to start the game,” the Wigan player continued. “If you ask any player if they’re on the bench or they’d rather start, there’s only one answer. Look, I’m doing everything I can to push for a start in this game. It’s a massive game, it’s the games you want to play in and hopefully I’m in the manager’s thinking.”
The winger hasn’t hid the fact that his side need a win. And that’s what he promises the country will go for in front of the home crowd.
“It’s like an international derby. Both teams don’t want to lose and both teams didn’t want to lose in November either and that’s what made it a tight, scrappy affair. But we know we need to win this game on Saturday so hopefully we come flying out of the blocks.
“They’re trying to get into our heads a bit, trying to get the edge [saying the pressure’s on Ireland]. But the pressure’s on them as well. If they lose the game, we go ahead of them so there’s pressure on both teams and, make no mistake about it, we’ll be going out all guns blazing trying to get the win.
“We’ll take the game to Scotland but whether it’s an exciting performance or a dull performance, if we get the three points, we’re not really bothered either way.”
