JAMES McClean has refused to rule out return to Republic of Ireland fold.
The Derry native was making his debut of RTÉ’s punditry team for Portugal v Ireland friendly clash in Aveiro with Stephen Kelly.
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The 35-year-old winger earned 102 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team before retiring from international football after a friendly against New Zealand last November.
RTE host Darragh Maloney quizzed the Wrexham star about Interim Ireland boss John O’Shea’s recent comments that he hadn’t spoke with McClean about any potential return to the international set-up.
The winger revealed that no contact had been made between himself and O’Shea.
However, he didn’t rule out a potential comeback with the national side but he said a telephone call must come from the Ireland manager before anything could potentially materialise.
He said: “Well, first and foremost the call has to come.
“It’s easy to sit here and say – ‘ah, no, I’m done’ or ‘I’d love to come back.’
“But, until that call comes where you’re being asked to come up and represent your country again – think if that call comes – then I’ll have a better answer in my mind.
“I’ve been going back and forth but until that call comes…I’ll know then and there.”
Interim boss O’Shea did recently have high praise for McClean as he hailed the player for they way he looked after himself.
O’Shea said: “He’s incredible, the way he looks after himself. I picked Enda Stevens and Robbie Brady. They’re in their early 30s.
“But we need some more younger . . . Ryan Manning is 28, we need more younger ones to keep kicking on and producing as well.
Ex-Derry City wide man McClean signed last August and played a starring role as the Robins finished runners-up to secure promotion to League One.
Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham in February 2021.