Ireland international and all-round great bloke James McClean has signed a new and improved contract which will keep him at West Brom until 2019.
The Derry man's new deal was announced by the club this morning, and comes on the back of an impressive Premier League season to date for the 27-year-old winger, though he has been left out of Tony Pulis' starting lineup in recent fixtures.
It's no secret that Pulis has a soft spot for the fiery Irishman, and it again became apparent in West Brom's official statement to announce McClean's new deal. As is custom for similar statements, the club manager weighed in with his two cents on the player. It was at the tail end of a typically glowing review, however, where Pulis produced a delightful quote which encapsulates the former Derry City and Sunderland star:
James thoroughly deserves this and has worked hard to achieve it.
James’s attitude and commitment to the group is first class and I’m delighted to see that approach rewarded in this way.
For what we paid, he's been a terrific signing for us. He's a good lad. He's not been in the team lately but his attitude in training and around the place...he's just a great kid.
He's scatty but that's James, he's a good lad with it.
'He's scatty, but that's James'. Nail on head, there, Big Tony.
It's certainly a more candid description than one would typically see a manager use in a statement regarding the contractual extension of one of his players, but surely even McClean himself wouldn't argue too vigorously with that assessment.
The flying Ireland winger has scored two goals and registered one assist for his club side this season, but has also established himself as one of the first names on Martin O'Neill's Ireland teamsheet, bagging the winner on a famous night in Vienna last month.
