He was cheap, we don’t pay him very much, he is a bit mad, but he is a good lad.
That pretty much sums up West Brom manager Tony Pulis’s assessment of James McClean as he confirmed the Republic of Ireland international has agreed a two-and-a-half year extension to keep him at the Hawthorns until 2019 at the earliest.
It has not always been plain sailing for the Derry native signed from Wigan for £1.5million in 2015 – the annual Poppy saga and McClean’s occasionally erratic tackling have seen Pulis come out to bat for the 27-year-old on more than one occasion.
Currently being kept out of the side, McClean has only started seven Premier League matches this season, but that has not stopped the club from securing the left-sided attacker’s services.
Seemingly, he is proving a bargain. A “scatty” bargain. A “scatty” bargain who does not piss and moan at training. He does sound like the archetypal Pulis player, really.
“For what we’ve paid and what the lad’s been earning, he’s been a terrific signing for us,” said Pulis on Friday, ahead of West Brom’s New Year’s Eve trip to Southampton.
“He’s been a good lad and he’s not been in the team lately but his attitude in training and around the place is great.
“He’s scatty, but he’s a good lad with it, he’s not a bad lad. He’s been knocking on my door a few times (to get in the team).”
McClean has played 58 times for the Baggies, scoring three times.
