James McClean is braced for a hostile reception when Wrexham travel to face Stoke City on Saturday, following his past criticism of the club's supporters. The 36-year-old, who spent three years at Stoke after a £5million move from West Brom in 2018, previously labelled some fans 'uneducated cavemen' after being booed for his refusal to wear a poppy around Remembrance Day.
McClean left Stoke in August 2021 after falling out with then-manager Michael O'Neill, later admitting they had a 'bad relationship'. He then joined Wigan Athletic and celebrated a 1-0 victory at the bet365 Stadium in April 2023, posting on social media: 'Milking it? Absolutely ****ing right I am.'
The Republic of Ireland international, now club captain at Wrexham, has seen a reduced role this season, starting only three of the first nine Championship matches. Despite this, former teammate Jeff Hendrick said McClean remains a hard worker and a valuable mentor for younger players.
Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, secured back-to-back promotions and are now in the Championship. McClean signed a new contract in 2024, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
