Ireland call-up delights McClean

IF it was a surprise that GiovanniTrapattoni left James McClean outof his latest squad in the first place, then it’s perhaps an even bigger one that the manager has now suddenly decided to call up the in-form Sunderland winger for the friendly game against the Czech Republic on February 29.

The Derry-born 22-year-old promptly responded to the news with a delighted tweet: “Absolutely buzzin’ and honoured to be called up to represent my country... best feeling there is.”

Derby County’s Paul Green, who was ruled out of most of the European Championship qualifying campaign through injury, has also been added to the squad which, in the absence of any fresh withdrawals after the loss of Richard Dunne, now numbers 26.