O’Shea recalled Robbie Brady (32) for the March window and included the Preston man in his squad for June’s dates with Hungary and Portugal while also bringing a fit-again Enda Stevens (33) back into the fold after an impressive run of form with Stoke City.
Promotion to League One for his Wrexham side and his own unhappiness with the manner of his finish with the Republic under Stephen Kenny had raised the prospect of McClean (35) returning to the fold despite that retirement decision, as happened with Glenn Whelan, who was pushed into retirement by Martin O’Neill but then recalled by Mick McCarthy.
O’Shea says that a recall for McClean for this window was not on the agenda but is a possibility if he delivers at club level during the 2024/25 term.
“I spoke to James. I know James well from his young Sunderland days, I spoke to him because I know the type of character he would be, desperate to help out if possible,” O’Shea said.
“But I spoke to him and was congratulating him with the season he had with Wrexham, but I said, ‘Look, just go and enjoy your summer’. If he’s obviously showing what he can do later on next season, we can deal with that.
“But for the summer, I said I was largely going to focus on the squad that I have picked for the two games with maybe one or two others as well.
“James will never consider himself officially retired. I’m sure he’s so proud to represent Ireland, but for me, it wasn’t going to be the case that he was going to be involved.
“He’s incredible, the way he looks after himself. I picked Enda and Robbie, and I know they are in their early 30s, but we need some more younger players.
“Ryan (Manning) is obviously 28, we need more younger ones to keep kicking on and producing as well, whether it be Anselmo García McNulty, who is doing well, obviously there’s Tayo Adaramola, Alex Murphy, there’s some good kids coming along, but we just need them to take the next step, and if they can kick on too, it will be important.
“They (Brady and Stevens) might have felt the chance to turn out for the Irish team might have passed them by again.
“It’s always important to see players that have been really committed and had excellent careers, that when they are showing good form, it’s important that it’s recognised as well.
“I know the type of characters they are to help out in the team and the group to get us that winning mentality and get us winning games again.”