McClean provides spark for Black Cats

MARTIN O’NEILL paid a glowing tribute to the role played by young Irishman James McClean in helping to ensure his Sunderland reign got off to a dramatic winning start.

McClean, an unused substitute on eight previous occasions this season, came off the bench for the final quarter hour to inject some much-needed life into a flagging display by the hosts, who climbed out of the bottom three thanks to a priceless come-from-behind victory sealed by two goals in the last six minutes.

McClean, a £350,000 summer arrival from Derry City, caught the eye with a number of purposeful runs and crosses down the left on his Premier League debut, and O’Neill said: “Just at the moment when we all needed a lift, on came James McClean. His first move was probably the first time most of the crowd here have seen him.

“He played brilliantly against Manchester United for the reserves in midweek, and merited his opportunity. He wants to get at players, he’s raw and inexperienced but he’s so positive in his outlook and that was great. The crowd took to him, and it provided us with a vital spark.”

O’Neill insists he lever lost faith in his troops’ ability to salvage something against a Blackburn side they’ve now gone seven consecutive games unbeaten against.

The 59-year-old Irishman added: “We deserved the break-through and after the equaliser, the place just lifted. The confidence flowed back through the team, and you could see the self-belief in the players.”

McClean hopes to have further opportunities to press his claims over the busy festive period, and the Derry-born Northern Ireland Under-21 international, who has opted to throw his lot in with the Republic when it comes to his international future, said: “I just want to play football, do well, and get into the first team.

“I feel my game has improved since I came here because you’re playing with top class players every day in training. I’ve come on physically and I’ve got more awareness now.”

Blackburn looked set to mark Steve Kean’s first anniversary in charge with rare back-to-back victories after taking the lead through Simon Vukcevic, and the manager admitted: “It’s a tough way to lose because with only six or so minutes to go it looked like we’d done enough to see it out.”

To add injury to insult for Rovers, Gael Givet was taken off early on with an irregular heartbeat, and fellow defender Jason Lowe was carried off in a neck brace in stoppage time.