McClean cleared to play for Republic of Ireland

James McClean has been officially cleared to play for the Republic of Ireland.

The FAI confirmed yesterday they had received the green light from Fifa for the in-form Sunderland winger who had previously played at youth level for Northern Ireland before committing to the Republic last year.

With the paperwork on the switch now rubberstamped, it means all eyes will be on Giovanni Trapattoni today when he names his squad for the European Championship finals warm-up friendly against the Czech Republic in Dublin on February 29.

Such has been McClean’s sensational impact since breaking into the Sunderland first team under Martin O’Neill that there is a widespread expectation Trapattoni will include him in today’s squad announcement.

However, the manager has put out mixed signals on the matter suggesting he intends to stick with the players who achieved qualification through to the Euro finals this summer.

To be factored into the equation also is the fact that first-choice wide man Aiden McGeady is currently nursing an ankle injury sustained during practice at Spartak Moscow’s training camp in Spain earlier this week.

However, according to the Russian club, a hospital scan revealed the ligament injury is less severe than the one which kept him out for two months last year.

“Our worst fears were not confirmed,” said a statement on Spartak’s website.

A spokesman also suggested that McGeady might even rejoin the club this coming weekend for the final phase of their warm-weather training camp in Marbella.

While Newcastle’s Leon Best is definitely unavailable for selection through injury, the news of Ireland’s leading striker yesterday was that LA Galaxy have ruled out an extension of Robbie Keane’s loan move to Aston Villa.

Keane’s current deal at Villa Park ends with an away game to Wigan on February 25 but Villa were hopeful of reaching an agreement to retain the player until March 3 when the side are away to Blackburn Rovers.

However, that game would come just seven days before Galaxy begin their season at home to Real Salt Lake on March 10, and the MLS club yesterday informed Villa they were not open to a change in the original arrangement.

Trapattoni will name his squad for the game against the Czech Republic this morning in Waterford.