Martin O'Neill believes James McClean will flourish with the responsibility of captaining the Republic of Ireland against Mexico The 28-year-old West Bromwich Albion midfielder has been named skipper for the friendly in New Jersey during the early hours of Friday morning. McClean has been a key member of O'Neill's side in recent months, scoring in two World Cup qualifiers. The next qualifier is at home to Austria on 11 June. Manager O'Neill, who gave McClean his Premier League debut at Sunderland, has seen the player grow in the years since. Speaking before training at the Met Life Stadium, O'Neill said with a smile: "I think in his personal life, that has settled down - and it's at least three months since he's had another tattoo, so it's really, really good. "He is in fine form. He wanted to come on the trip and he wanted to get a cap. Every opportunity he wants to take." McClean has risen to the fore for Ireland during the current World Cup qualifying campaign, during which his goals in Moldova and Austria have proved decisive.

O'Neill is hoping for more of the same as he prepares for the Austrians' visit to the Aviva Stadium. The Republic's manager said: "He knows how important those things have been. The great thing about James is he feels important in the team, particularly in this World Cup run that we have had." The Mexico match will give fringe players the chance to impress while Shane Duffy, Cyrus Christie and Daryl Murphy may benefit from much-needed playing time.