Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has urged Republic of Ireland counterpart Giovanni Trapattoni not to forget James McClean as he draws up his plans for Euro 2012.
The 22-year-old Derry-born winger, who was signed by O'Neill's predecessor Steve Bruce, has been a massive hit since being thrust into the limelight by O'Neill shortly before Christmas.
McClean continued his spectacular emergence with a match-winning strike at Stoke on Saturday as speculation mounted that he could be included in Trapattoni's squad for the Republic's friendly against the Czech Republic later this month.
Having seen him handle the switch from Derry City to the Barclays Premier League without batting an eyelid, O'Neill is convinced the youngster has what it will take to make the step into senior international football.
He said: "I don't think he would have a problem with it. I can understand Trapattoni being very loyal to a group of players that he's worked with for the last two years and who have seen him through.
"But I think that they would have to have a serious look at James and the form he is showing. My own view is that he would be a genuine asset to them, but I do stress it is my own view.
"I am not telling Trapattoni how to conduct his affairs, which he is doing pretty well without my help."
McClean's direct brand of wing play has made him an instant hit at the Stadium of Light and he is rapidly establishing himself as a crowd favourite as the Black Cats' recovery under O'Neill continues apace.
His manager knows there will come a time when, as a young and inexperienced player, he will suffer a natural dip in form, but he has been thrilled with his contribution to date.
O'Neill added: "It's given him encouragement to go and take players on and play his natural game, and he is thriving on it.
"He has been exceptional for us. He has got into the team, he has held his place on merit and is growing in confidence and it's great to see, it really is.
"What he has done, the level he has been playing at and the consistency he has been showing has been truly amazing. I have been pleasantly surprised by it, it hasn't dropped.
"But of course there will be a dip, there will be a dip in his form, there will be a dip in the team's form.
"We will lose a game, we will lose two matches and we will not know where the next point is coming from.
"All of that there is around the corner and it's how we react eventually to that again."
McClean is likely to get his latest chance to impress in the club's FA Cup fourth round replay at Middlesbrough tomorrow.
Sunderland needed a second-half equaliser from the returning Fraizer Campbell to book their trip to the Riverside Stadium after Barry Robson had fired the npower Championship visitors into a deserved lead in the first game, and O'Neill is expecting life to be no easier second time around.
He said: "If you could guarantee me winning the game in extra-time, going into penalty kicks or whatever the case may be, just to be out in front at the end, it wouldn't worry me.
"I can't look too far into the future. Of course, in an ideal world it would have been great if we had been able to win the game at the first time of asking.
"That was always hard and I think the game is very, very much in the balance."
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