James McClean is never too far away from his next controversy.
Polarising opinions like few others can, one thing is for certain; Celtic supporters want to see him represent their club - and that feeling is very much mutual.
McClean grew up in the Creggan estate, Derry, where six of the people killed on Bloody Sunday by British forces 1972, also came from. The Creggan estate is predominantly Celtic supporters and McClean as a youngster, was a Celtic fan.
The West Brom winger spoke to Celtic FC's official website about his influences as a 'wee boy,'
Growing up where I did, there is a massive Celtic influence. Where I am from, you are born into it and you grow up with it and ever since then, it’s been a love affair. It’s a club that I grew up supporting as wee boy and I have taken that on. It’s a club that means a lot to me. You’re born into it and grow up with it. You have your Man United and Liverpool fans but where I grew up is predominantly a Celtic area. You’re taken to the bars and watch the games, like the Glasgow derbies. You take a love to it and it’s pretty special.
McClean has endured a frustrating time at the Hawthorn's in recent season's, starting just three of their Premier League matches. It will be sooner rather than later before we see him plying his trade in the green and white hoops with his latest come and get me plea.
It’s always been a dream of mine. If I retire from football and never get to pull on the green-and-white jersey and run out at Celtic Park, it will be a massive regret for me. It’s a dream I have never shied away from expressing. If that dream did come true, which I hope it does, it would mean a lot to me and fingers crossed it can happen.
If Celtic were lure McClean to Glasgow, it would be a major coup manager Brendan Rodgers securing the quality of the winger like McClean. He was Ireland's top goalscorer during their World Cup qualifying campaign, scoring four goals, he scored the crucial goal.
Read James McClean's interview with Celtic FC here.
