James McClean deserves credit for the courage he showed in his performance at the City Ground – and for sticking by his beliefs - says Jack Colback.
But if Colback wants to shout off - as he ALWAYS does - he should understand why the Newcastle fans (the majority of them) CANNOT STAND HIM!
He talks about a return to SJP but nobody wants him back.
But ... for the record ... this is what he has to say about McClean the IRA sympathizer.
Colback supports his former teammate’s right to stand by what he believes in.
McClean’s decision not to wear a poppy in tribute to fallen soldiers has put him in the spotlight regularly over the last few years.
McClean was booed every time he got on the ball at the City Ground, but was still often Stoke’s most dangerous threat in Saturday's 0-0 draw, with the jeers not seemingly an influence on his performance.
“I know James from my time at Sunderland and he is a great lad. The stuff that has gone on around him, I would not want to get into,” said Colback. “But he has done this because of his own beliefs and fair play to him for standing up for what he believes in.
“Fans will look for something to jump on when it comes to players. But he is strong enough to take that and get on with things.
“He played well. He showed courage. He was getting stick and he had a few moments in the first half when he lost the ball. But in the second half he was good.
“He did not hide and credit to him for that.
“And the stuff that gets said to him is disgraceful.
“As a player, because you are a footballer, you are expected to accept some things when, in any other walk of life, people would be getting arrested.
“As players, you are expected to get on with things. He is a really nice lad off the pitch. He is down to earth.”
McClean's HATRED of anything British falls at the first hurdle ... because he plays his football in England. If he has a problem with the English, as he says he does, there is flight back to Ireland every hour from Newcastle airport.
I suggest he catch one of them!
FIXTURES:-
26/11/2018 Burnley v Newcastle United
01/12/2018 Newcastle United v West Ham United
05/12/2018 Everton v Newcastle United (19.45)
08/12/2018 Newcastle United v Wolverhampton
NEWCASTLE 2 BOURNEMOUTH 1 (Rondon 2)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Schär, Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie (Hayden 74), Ki Sung-yueng, Diamé (Atsu 80), Kenedy (Clark 78), Pérez, Rondón
Subs: Clark, Murphy, Manquillo, Joselu, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 1 WATFORD 0
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles (Schär 45), Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey (Ki Sung-yueng 51), Diamé, Kenedy, Muto (Pérez 45+2), Rondón
Subs: Manquillo, Joselu, Darlow, Atsu
SOUTHAMPTON 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diamé (Ki Sung-yueng 76), Kenedy, Pérez (Rondón 69), Muto (Atsu 80)
Subs: Schär, Manquillo, Joselu, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 0 BRIGHTON 1
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diamé, Kenedy, Pérez, Muto (Joselu 74)
Subs: Schär, Murphy, Hayden, Manquillo, Darlow, Atsu
MAN UTD 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Kenedy, Muto)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Manquillo, Ritchie, Shelvey, Diamé, Kenedy (Murphy 68), Pérez (Joselu 88), Muto (Atsu 78)
Subs: Schär, Hayden, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 0 LEICESTER 2
Dubravka, Yedlin (Manquillo 80), Lascelles, Clark, Kenedy, Ritchie (Murphy 65), Diamé, Shelvey, Atsu, Pérez (Muto 69), Joselu
Subs: Schär, Hayden, Darlow, Longstaff
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie (Atsu 73), Diamé, Shelvey, Kenedy, Pérez (Muto 81), Rondón (Joselu 45)
Subs: Clark, Ki Sung-yueng, Manquillo, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 1 ARSENAL 2 (Clark)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles (Clark 45), Fernandez, Dummett, Ritchie (Muto 79), Hayden, Diamé, Murphy (Kenedy 69), Pérez, Joselu
Subs: Shelvey, Rondón, Manquillo, Dar
MAN CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Yedlin)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Clark (Murphy 81), Dummett, Kenedy (Atsu 54), Diamé, Ki Sung-yueng, Pérez, Rondón (Joselu 73)
Subs: Muto, Sterry, Darlow, Longstaff
NOTTINGHAM FOR 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Rondon)
Darlow, Sterry, Schär, Fernandez (Pérez 69), Clark, Atsu, Longstaff, Ki Sung-yueng, Kenedy, Muto (Murphy 77), Joselu (Rondón 82)
Subs: Elliot, Dummett, Diamé, Yedlin
NEWCASTLE 1 CHELSEA 2 (Joselu)
Dubravka, Yedlin, Schär (Muto 79), Fernandez, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Diamé, Ki Sung-yueng, Murphy (Pérez 73), Rondón (Joselu 62)
Subs: Sterry, Darlow, Atsu, Longstaff
CARDIFF 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Dubravka, Manquillo (Hayden 45), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (Murphy 70), Shelvey, Diamé, Kenedy, Pérez (Muto 65), Joselu
Subs: Ki Sung-yueng, Rondón, Fernandez, Darlow
NEWCASTLE 1 TOTTENHAM 2 (Joselu)
Dubravka, Yedlin (90+2), Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie (Atsu 69), Shelvey, Diamé, Kenedy, Pérez (Muto 81),Joselu (Rondón 59)
Subs: Ki Sung-yueng, Schär, Manquillo, Darlow