“Madness – in a good way.”
That is how former Republic of Ireland international McClean describes a club who have looked a perfect fit for him since signing from Wigan Athletic last summer.
Fletcher is the only outfield player older than McClean. But while the former Scotland striker has made all bar two of his 40 appearances from the bench, McClean is behind only 22-year-old Max Cleworth in terms of Wrexham minutes this league campaign.
He is regularly described as the fittest player in the squad and plays with the attitude of a rookie trying to earn a contract rather than a veteran winding down during a final pay day.
“When you have someone who is such a good man-manager, you will go above and beyond to repay that faith,” says McClean, in tribute to Parkinson. “He has put a lot of trust in me which is something I treasure and cherish.”
Parkinson plays that down and instead puts it down to the players’ professionalism. He has previously told the story of McClean being involved in a car accident earlier in the season, only to turn up at the training ground the same morning, boots in hand.
“I didn’t want to milk it and we had an important game,” says McClean of the incident.
There are often incidents with McClean, a player who has proven divisive over the years and more often than not is booed at pretty much every game by opposition fans. It tends to prompt louder backing from the Wrexham support who have come to idolise a player whose work ethic has set a standard and brought success.
Admitting he has had a “mixed reception” at some of his past clubs, there is a clear connection between McClean and Wrexham fans – with images of the promotion celebration testament to that – which he says has helped spur him to this late career revival.
“As long as you’ve got the backing of the manager, team-mates and fans, all the rest is outside noise and has no bearing on me,” McClean said.
“I’ve been used to it my whole career. You either embrace it or go under and that’s never been me.”
This reflects why Parkinson brought such experience and attitude into his squad, knowing it could deal with the cameras and cope with the expectation.
“Long may it continue,” says McClean as he now looks forward to a return to the Championship.
“We were told last season we wouldn’t get out of this league so who knows, this club loves defying the odds – a bit like myself.”
And a bit like their manager whose calculated gamble on the notion you can’t buy experience has paid off.
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