James McClean reveals boxing passion as Ireland look to punch above their weight  

Stephen Kenny's side face Ukraine in the Nations League on Tuesday in Lodz in Poland.

James McClean arrives for a Republic of Ireland training session at LKS Stadium in Lodz, Poland. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Many a heavyweight footballer, including Zbigniew Boniek, enjoyed a stopover in Lodz but new boxing convert James McClean is planning to land a blow on Ukraine in the Polish city tonight.

Boniek made his name at Widzew Lodz before Juventus came calling in 1982 and the football tradition it engendered is reflected by the pair of spanking stadia in a city that up to next season had no club in the top-flight for years.