Boss tips McClean to rival wizard Bale

Martin O’Neill claims James McClean can be as good as Gareth Bale provided he quickly learns how to deal with the unwanted attentions of increasingly packed defences intent on halting his rapid rise to prominence.

McClean’s emergence has been one of the highlights of Sunderland’s season, with the former Derry City winger breaking into the first team and delivering a string of eye-catching displays in the four months since O’Neill took charge.

On a rare off day, he was nowhere near as effective as the Black Cats were held by struggling Wolves, and the visitors had clearly been instructed to commit as many men as possible to prevent the Republic of Ireland international marauding down the touchline.