Goal of the season? James McClean has not enjoyed the best of seasons after moving to Stoke City during the summer, finding himself in and out of the starting line-up for most of the campaign. While he fell largely out of favour following the appointment of Nathan Jones as manager in January, he has been recalled to the side in recent weeks.
He had started the last couple of games up front, he found himself in a more familiar wide left role for today's trip to Ipswich Town. He was rewarded for his alertness just before half time, when some horrific miscommunication from the home defence handed him the easiest goal he will score in his career.
Watch out for the cheeky celebration too.
Goal: #SCFC 1-0 #ITFC
⚽️ McClean
🅰️ Jonas Knudsen - Another woeful defensive mistake. pic.twitter.com/D0AQQPrwib— The Tractor Boys (@TTBITFC) February 16, 2019
We are not sure if he was in shock at being handed such an easy opportunity, or if he was trying to rile the home support.
McClean just posed and got into a bit of a staring competition with the Ipswich fans, and he is a player that rarely gets on with opposition supporters. He has been the focus of a torrent of abuse due to his refusal to wear a poppy on his jersey, something that has not gone down well with certain sections of football supporters in England.
This was the Derry man's second goal in the Championship this season, to go along with six assists. Mick McCarthy will be hoping the player can get a decent run in the Stoke team ahead of Ireland's opening Euro 2020 Qualifiers in March, where the winger should feature.
He faces some competition for a starting spot out wide, with the likes of Callum O'Dowda and Sean Maguire in excellent form as of late. McClean has always performed well for Ireland when called upon, however, and we certainly wouldn't mind seeing him score a few tap ins like this in a green jersey in 2019.
