James McClean has been labelled as a "maniac" by one of his Wrexham colleagues thanks to his intense training regime. The former Republic of Ireland international and skipper of the Red Dragons is well-known for his unwavering commitment to staying fit, often indulging in additional gym workouts.
At 35 years old, McClean shows no signs of slowing down, having racked up an impressive 41 appearances for the Welsh side this season. With only four games left, the League One club - owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney - are eyeing a third straight promotion.
One of McClean's teammates at Wrexham has now revealed details about the winger's dedication off the field, lauding his exceptional drive. Speaking on the Men in Blazers podcast, midfielder Ollie Rathbone praised McClean for his influential presence in the dressing room.
"James McClean trains harder than anyone else I've ever played with," Rathbone said. "He's a maniac, but in a good way. Every single session, he's at it 100 per cent in the gym, before training and after training. He leaves no stone unturned to be at his best on Saturday.
"That ultimately makes you want to do your best, because if you see the captain doing it and senior players doing it, it rubs off on everyone in the squad. Everyone knows then that they can't afford to cut corners."
In Wrexham's dressing room, seasoned veterans like McClean and ex-Scotland international Steven Fletcher have proved pivotal. Fletcher, 38, has scored several critical goals this term, earning him the "super-sub" tag.
Rathbone praised the pair for their down-to-earth attitude and positive influence. He said: "To be fair to Jimmy and Fletch, they don't hold themselves any higher than the rest of us due to the career they've had.
"They get on with things as usual but they are great influences to have. We have lots of fantastic senior players like [goalkeeper] Mark Howard. They have not so much an aura, but a sense of respect around the room.
"They've been there, they've done it, and you look at them and know that they're not going to go under or be flustered by anything. Ultimately, they're really popular and genuine guys."
Rathbone added: "When you're training alongside these guys every day and they're working really hard, you think, 'he's 10 years older than me. I can't have a day off today if he's not taking a day off'."
Similarly impressed, Wrexham wing-back Jacob Mendy previously shared his admiration for McClean's commitment to fitness. He said: "James is a different breed. I don't know how he does it. I really admire his work ethic. He is a very good player but he is a good man as well. I have a very good relationship with him."
Wrexham are currently occupying the second automatic promotion spot in League One behind Birmingham City, who recently wrapped up the league title. Phil Parkinson's team are just a single point ahead of their competitors, Wycombe Wanderers, setting the stage for an exciting end to the season.
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