James McClean claims he’s doesn’t let abuse from opposition fans bother him as much as it once did.
The West Brom winger has been involved in a number of controversial incidents during his time in English football, stemming primarily from his stance on wearing the Remembrance Day poppy, and is regularly booed by rival fans.
McClean admitted that the jeers affected him earlier in his career, saying it “shattered” his confidence, but he claims he now uses it as a source of inspiration.
“A few years ago, when I started getting abuse, it had a massive effect on me in terms of how I was playing,” the 26-year-old told the Derry Journal.
“It shattered my confidence but I’ve got used to that now and it doesn’t bother me as much. If anything, it spurs me on.”
“As long as I impress the fans of the club I play for, then that’s all that matters. I’m not stupid enough to believe I’m going to change people’s perceptions of me. I’m certainly not going to lose any sleep over it. I expect the abuse and I’m well used to it by now.”
McClean also spoke about an incident at Goodison Park last weekend, when words were exchanged with an Everton fan.
“Last Saturday was a prime example (that) any small action I do, on or off the field, is going to be picked up by the media and the papers are going to make it a lot bigger of a story than it should be.”
“On Saturday, there was a two-second altercation with a fan which, in my eyes, was nothing and then it’s in the papers as this big spat. Any opportunity they get, like on Remembrance Day, they’re going to bring my name up and it’s like water off a duck’s back now.”
