Wrexham midfielder James McClean is a model professional who boasts one ‘attribute’ that is just so priceless to Phil Parkinson.
James McClean may divide opinion among supporters in England but at Wrexham, he’s adored by everyone.
Although he has a short fuze and can overstep the mark on the pitch, the 35-year-old has been described as the hardest-working professional he’s seen by Ben Foster and that rubs off on the younger players.
Despite his age, he keeps himself in impeccable shape and this helps him perform to consistently high standards.
Last season, he was used across multiple positions, including as a central midfielder and at left wing-back, but he didn’t let his performances drop and produced an impressive 10 assists.
That is one of the reasons why Wrexham handed McClean a new contract till 2026 on Wednesday, while there was another key factor behind that decision.
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James McClean’s work ethic is ‘priceless’ to Wrexham
Foster named McClean above former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo as the hardest-working player he’s seen. It’s a trait that is often underrated, as while quality stands out, work ethic is what takes you to the very top.
McClean has played at the highest level for club and country, appearing 104 times for the Republic of Ireland while turning out on 158 occasions in the Premier League.
Without his incredible work ethic and desire to be the fittest player in the squad, he wouldn’t have experienced such an esteemed career.
Speaking on the Rob Ryan Red podcast, journalist Rich Fay described the above traits as ‘priceless’ as every single player in the squad will look at the levels he’s reaching in training and want to replicate it.
“He’s such a good pro, every single player will go there and they will see how hard he is training,” Fay said when discussing his new contract. “They will see the effort he puts in and particularly for the young pros, they’ll be like ‘that’s the standard we need to be at’. That is priceless.
“You will talk about how much a contract is and how much people are on but there are some sort of assets and traits that you can’t put a price on whatsoever. And I think James McClean has that in abundance”.
James McClean’s versatility is vital to Wrexham
Parkinson likes to sign players who can play in multiple positions when needed. For instance, Sebastian Revan prefers to be used as a left wing-back but he’s capable in the centre or right side of defence.
Likewise, George Dobson was signed to be a defensive midfielder but already the Wrexham boss has used him as a centre-back in pre-season, showcasing his versatility.
In a gruelling League One campaign, Wrexham will invariably suffer injuries and Parkinson will need to reshuffle his squad.
And judging by his current personnel, he’ll have no problem doing so, with McClean capable as a left-back, central midfielder, winger and striker.
It’s such versatility that gives him the edge over some other players in the squad who can only play one position, as it means his chances of being selected are increased.
Couple that with the quality he provides from his wand of a left foot, and there’s no wonder Wrexham chose to add another year onto his contract.