West Brom manager Tony Pulis has described James McClean as "not the sharpest tool in the box" after he became embroiled in an on-pitch melee following Albion's victory over Sunderland on Saturday.
Pulis was speaking generally about a player who has become a regular target for taunting by opposing fans since refusing to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day in 2012. Many of the 2,700 Sunderland fans pointedly chanted “No Surrender to the IRA” at the Hawthorns. When the final whistle confirmed Albion’s 1-0 victory, McClean ran towards the Sunderland fans and pumped his fists triumphantly.
The fans reacted with fury, as did many Sunderland players, with Danny Graham and Lee Cattermole shoving the Republic of Ireland international before other players from both sides joined in. Pulis did not see the incident but said he will review it: "If he's out of order, I'll have a word with him."
Nice lad
The manager then defended his player’s character, although perhaps not in terms that McClean will appreciate. “He’s not the sharpest tool in the box, and that’s not being disrespectful to him,” said Pulis. “He’s a smashing lad, a really, really nice lad. The lads here have really taken to him.”
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce also missed the incident but said: "I suppose he felt like they must have been giving him a bit of stick and because they've beaten us, he felt he like showing a bit back. But it's not my responsibility to say what happens, the rules and regulations will look after that."
McClean had used the programme for the match against Sunderland, for whom he played between 2011 and 2013, to elaborate on his reasons for eschewing the poppy and not singing God Save the Queen, which he refused to do during a pre-season tour with Albion in the summer.
“It stands for all the conflicts that Britain has been involved in. Because of the history of where I come from in Derry, I cannot wear something that represents that,” he said.
