James McClean's Wrexham move under Reynolds and McElhenney sparks career revival

James McClean

James McClean Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have caused quite a stir in Wales, and the potential is there for some of that Hollywood magic dust to drift across the Irish Sea.

Two famous faces from North America are opening up a window to the world at Wrexham, with it impossible not to be dragged along for the ride.

Shrewd investment has allowed the Red Dragons to flourish, with pedigree often being favoured over potential. James McClean has bought into that project, with a man who once graced the Premier League with Sunderland and West Brom prepared to step down into League Two to join the Reynolds and McElhenney ride.

He has committed fully to that cause, with international retirement slipped into after cap No.103 was earned in a friendly date with New Zealand on November 21, 2023.

The Republic of Ireland knew by then that there would be no major tournament action on their schedule for 2024 – with a winless European Championship qualification campaign setting winds of change in motion.

Process

McClean formed part of that process, as he stepped down as a Boys in Green centurion, and will be among those watching on from afar this summer as the likes of 3/1 England and 4/1 France top Euro football betting markets and seek to secure themselves a prestigious continental crown.

Ireland may, however, not have seen the last of a long-serving stalwart who is playing with a smile on his face once more. He threatened to lose that sense of joy in the national set up under Stephen Kenny, which contributed to a hanging up of international boots.

Kenny has now been moved on, with former Manchester United defender John O’Shea inheriting managerial reins on an initial caretaker basis.

One of his first pieces of business was to sound out McClean – on the back of a promotion-winning party at Wrexham – and nudge open a door in Ireland that appeared to have swung shut.



O’Shea has said of talks that could deliver a professional U-turn: “I spoke to James. I know James well from his young Sunderland days, I spoke to him because I know the type of character he would be, desperate to help out if possible. But I spoke to him and congratulated him on the season he had with Wrexham, but I said, ‘Look, just go and enjoy your summer’. If he’s showing what he can do later on next season, we can deal with that.”

McClean will be sticking around at Wrexham, with a one-year extension option being triggered in his contract.

He showed when helping to secure a runners-up finish in the fourth tier of English football that he should have more than enough left in the tank to cope with a step up onto the third rung of that particular ladder.

That could end up being good news for Ireland, as they count down the days to another Nations League campaign and the start of 2026 World Cup qualifying in March 2025.

Having McClean on board for either of those quests would be most welcome.

O’Shea is ruling nothing out, and has added on welcoming a familiar face back into the fold at some point in the near future: “James will never consider himself officially retired. I’m sure he’s so proud to represent Ireland.”



Targets

Until such a day comes that McClean decides he is finished with all forms of football, he should be considered in contention for selection by Ireland.

His vast experience could prove to be most useful, with leaders aplenty required when attempting to hit the loftiest of targets. Wrexham has proved adept at doing just that, with a meteoric rise intended to deliver top-flight football to the Racecourse Ground at some point.

Reynolds and McElhenney have got everybody singing from the same hymn sheet, with the right chords being struck.

McClean has added his skill set to that choir, and his voice is very much being heard.

He is loving life on a domestic stage again, but can his professional life be considered complete without a famous green jersey being pulled on from time to time?

Wrexham has helped McClean to rediscover a spark that was in danger of fizzling out, as he gets caught up in the fanfare surrounding ambitious co-owners, and that may allow him to star in a few more episodes of a spin off show that sits alongside Reynolds and McElhenney’s award-winning Welsh production.

 

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