Just six months ago James McClean was languishing in Sunderland's reserve team but now the Republic of Ireland winger plans to cap a fairytale rise by stealing the spotlight at Euro 2012.
McClean's surprise call-up to Ireland's Euro squad has given the 23-year-old an unexpected chance to share the same stage as stars like Xavi, Andrea Pirlo and Luka Modric and he has no intention of wasting the opportunity.
Although his only international experience to date remains his debut as a substitute against the Czech Republic in February, McClean has been ear-marked by Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni as a potential game-changer after a superb second half of the season with Sunderland.
McClean will have to compete with experienced campaigners like Damien Duff, Stephen Hunt and Aiden McGeady for a place in Trapattoni's team but he has no doubts he can make an impact in group stage clashes against Spain, Croatia and Italy.
"I'm in the squad and I'm delighted to be in the squad. But I'm not going to be here just to make up the numbers and leave it at that," he said.
"We have the training camp and the friendlies coming up and I want to show him that I can leave my mark and give him something to think about when it comes to selecting the team for the first game.
"Hopefully, I'll give him (Trapattoni) a dilemma."
The Derry-born youngster has already demonstrated his single-minded determination to reach the highest level by ignoring a barrage of abuse in his native Northern Ireland triggered by his decision to represent the Republic despite playing for the north at junior level.
And, crucially for McClean's development, that commitment to doing whatever it takes to maximise his talent found a kindred spirit in Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill.
When McCLean joined Sunderland in a £350,000 move from Irish club Derry City last year, he was regarded by then boss Steve Bruce as a raw recruit with plenty of room for improvement and was quickly dispatched to learn his trade in the unforgiving environment of the reserve team.
But McClean got a break when Bruce was sacked in November and new boss O'Neill recognised the rookie's ability to unlock a defence with his pace and accurate crossing could be invaluable to Sunderland's struggling forwards.
It took just 14 minutes for McClean to prove O'Neill right as he made his debut against Blackburn in December with Sunderland trailing 1-0.
By full-time, the Black Cats, inspired by the new boy's menacing runs, had clinched a crucial 2-1 victory that sparked their climb away from the relegation zone and earned McClean a regular spot in O'Neill's team.
His first start came in a 1-0 victory over champions-elect Manchester City on New Year's Day and he has not missed a game since, contributing six goals to Sunderland's steady revival.
However, while Trapattoni was aware of McClean's talents, it took another moment of good fortune to get his chance as injuries persuaded the Italian to send him on for an eye-catching debut against the Czechs.
Rarely can a player have received such an ovation on debut as McClean did when he emerged from the bench to replace McGeady in a late cameo.
Trapattoni joked: "I thought, 'Who is this? Messi, Maradona, Pele?'"
That was enough to seal his place in the Euro squad and Trapattoni's assistant Marco Tardelli admits there is every chance he could force his way into the starting line-up.
"He is a good boy. He wants to work because he knows he needs to learn many things," Tardelli said.
"He is strong physically and I think he will be for us a good player. Surely, he is the future but maybe it is possible also this time."
Source: AFP
