+34
‘You quickly realise that what you hear on the phone is not what you see in reality.’
FORMER IRELAND INTERNATIONAL James McClean has hinted at his unhappiness at Derry City following his return to his hometown club. Now 37, McClean returned to the Ryan McBride Brandywell this season after a 15-year stint in English football.
“Family enjoying being home – probably not so much myself, if I’m being honest,” McClean said during a punditry appearance on RTÉ on Saturday evening. “You know, you have a lot of conversations on the phone, and then you come home and you quickly realise that what you hear on the phone is not what you see in reality. Advertisement “There’s a lot of factors that’s contributed to that, but we’ll leave them for another day.
” James McClean on his return from Derry "What you hear on the phone is not what you see in reality" Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/YjC5jGh2xL — RTÉ Sport June 13, 2026 McClean came off the bench for the final three minutes of Derry’s 4-1 win against Bohemians on Friday night – the Candystripes’ first win in eight games. He has made just one start and two substitute appearances since revealing last month that his career was in jeopardy due to a chronic hip injury, though a subsequent assessment allowed him to return to action in the short term.
“Fitness generally is fine,” he told RTÉ’s Tony O’Donoghue. “Obviously it’s not ideal, but it’s in a lot better place than it was a couple of months ago. “A couple of months ago, to be honest with you, I didn’t really know if I’d be back on a football pitch. “The fact that I’ve got a few games in since then is obviously optimistic, so I’m trying to stay optimistic on it to be honest. ”
James Mcclean League Of Ireland RTÉ Soccer Derry City Unhappy
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why is James Lowe leaving Leinster?The Counter Ruck Podcast
Read more »
Clarke brace fuels Derry City's 4-1 triumph over Bohemians at Celtic ParkJames Clarke scores twice as Derry City secure a 4-1 victory over Bohemians, ending a winless streak and boosting their league position, while off‑field tensions are contained by police.
Read more »
Former Derry U21 Player Reflects on 1983 Ulster Victory and Life Amid TroublesTerence McGinnis, a former Derry U21 player from the 1983 Ulster Under-21 final winning team, shares memories of playing alongside future stars like Tony Scullion and Dermot McNicholl. He recounts the backdrop of the Troubles affecting daily life and his family, while his own children now pursue Gaelic football in Dublin. McGinnis looks forward to watching his daughter Hannah play for Dublin against Donegal, the same county his team defeated decades ago.
Read more »
McClean Slams FAI for 'Cowardly Move' in Relocating Israel MatchJames McClean criticizes the Football Association of Ireland for moving the Nations League match against Israel to a neutral venue behind closed doors, calling it a missed opportunity to take a moral stand over Gaza.
Read more »