Roy Keane pleased with James McClean

James McClean has been added to the Irish panel for next week’s game in the US against Mexico — at his own request.

As a training squad comprised almost entirely of Championship personnel was completing its three days’ work at Fota Island yesterday, Roy Keane said that he expects all these players will fly out to the States on Monday, along with goalkeepers Darron Randolph and Keiren Westwood.

But it was the news of McClean’s addition to the travelling party which caught the eye, since — along with very recent Premier League debutants Kevin Long and Declan Rice — the West Brom man would be the only other outfield player from England’s top-flight in the squad for the game in New Jersey against Mexico next Thursday.