We can’t imagine Tony Pulis ever giving anyone a slap on the wrist.
We’d guess that the baseball capped-one is more of a hands-on manager when it comes to letting players know exactly what he thinks of their indiscretions.
So we imagine James McClean got more than the gentle telling-off Pulis alluded to in his press conference ahead of this weekend’s clash with Norwich.
Last week the Republic of Ireland international caused pandemonium after he reacted to a late winner for West Brom in front of the travelling Sunderland fans at the Hawthorns, and Pulis was quick to react at the time.
Pulis on McClean: "He's not the sharpest tool in the box, and that's not being disrespectful to him."
— Paul Doyle (@Paul_Doyle) October 17, 2015
And the Welshman elaborated on what he’s said to McClean in order to prevent such scenes in the future.
“I’ve had a chat with him, you’ve got to be careful what you do today, he was taking stick all game and he saluted our supporters and on that side the Sunderland supporters were there,” Pulis said.
“He was delighted that we’d won, it was against his old club, which gives it a bit of added spice but you’ve got to be cool and hold yourself back at times and James has to do that.”
“The Sunderland supporters had been giving him a load of stick all afternoon. He shouldn’t react but the FA have been sensible in what they’ve done.”
Heading into November and McClean is likely to be once again the target of abuse for rival supporters for his refusal to wear a poppy.
The winger has already written a letter to explain why he’s against the symbol and Pulis admits that he isn’t going to get caught up in the furore.
“No problems at all, it’s not what I personally believe but if that’s what James believes then that’s what he believes.”
