McShane admits preference for role at heart of the defence

As of today’s paper going to print, Paul McShane had yet to convince Giovanni Trapattoni of his merits as an international centre back.

He started against the Spanish last night in Yankee Stadium at right-back and although he’s proud to play anywhere for his country, the fact nobody acknowledges his role in the centre of the Hull City defence this season is an obvious source of frustration for him.

Hull’s return to the Premier League wasn’t exactly straightforward at the end of their Championship campaign but, from a personal point of view, McShane, 27, is already on record as being completely satisfied with his contribution to the promotion effort.

And he reiterated it after being asked about the competition for places at full-back in the national team.

“It always comes back to full-back,” he replied gently though with a note of impatience in his voice.

“This whole season, I’ve been playing centre-back. I made my debut at centre-back. I can do a job at full-back but I always see my strengths at centre-back. I see my future at centre-back. If you want me to play be full-back, up front, right wing, in goal, I’ll do it for you. But deep down I know I’m a centre-back.

“I’ve not spoken to (Trapattoni) about it. Talk is cheap and I have been playing centre-back for Hull all season. We got promoted.

“I know I was playing left-back at the end of the season but that was just because we were tripping over the line. I’m most comfortable at centre-back.”

Today begins the long preparation for a top flight return he never thought would be possible. He has to clock back in on July 8 but the reality of modern football is that, be it through mental preparation or staying on top of physical conditioning, switching off completely by a pool somewhere is a tall order.

“Nowadays there’s no such thing as an off-season. You’ve got to keep ticking over.

“I’ll try and enjoy myself as much as I can but I’ll have one eye on the new season. I’ll get a few weeks I’ll be grand. You do think to yourself, ‘Will I ever get another crack at it?’ I have another crack at it now.

“The first time I was in the Premier League, I was quite young, I was 21, 22, 23. I’ve more experience now. I can use that to my advantage. I know what to expect. I’m looking forward to it.”

As if that wasn’t enough to keep his mind occupied, discussions over a new contract are being thrown into the mix. But McShane’s not fazed.

“It’s under negotiations — so Jerry Maguire is in there at the moment! I don’t think there’ll be any problems.”

McShane was keen not to dwell on recent revelations he almost walked away from the game but it was still a primary source of curiosity for the travelling Irish soccer media.

“I just knew deep down that it wasn’t the right thing to do,” he said.

“I’ve said all that but I don’t want to keep banging on about it. I don’t want the violins out. I got it all off my chest. I was ready to pack the bleeding game in. I was fed up. That’s the way things work out. I just knew deep down that I wasn’t going to go.

“I stuck it through and like I said, I was doing the right things. Hard work pays off in the end. I was always preparing for games properly. I had a responsibility to myself and my team mates to keep my chin up and keep working. I think the lads saw that over the years. I think I deserved to have a year like this.”