Can we take a moment to show our appreciation for James McClean?

Wednesday’s performance was titanic, both defensively and going forward. In isolation it would have been a true captain’s innings, but as the second section of a two-parter, it was terrific.

The circumstances of his performance at Ipswich were almost as important as its quality.

He returned to the side after failing to start any of the previous ten games. His most recent league start was in mid-September, when he was withdrawn after an hour of our grim home loss to QPR.

He’d also suffered a minor injury, which must have been bemusing for him as he’s clearly indestructible, Another factor will have probably hurt him more.

Liberato Cacace’s injury problems might have opened the door for McClean, but when Issa Kabore made his debut, Ryan Longman was shifted across into McClean’s position on the left.

The Irishman must have been disappointed at Longman’s perceived leap ahead of him in the wing-back queue, but he was given a start in the next game. Unfortunately, it was the QPR match, and his absence from the side had begun.

So there was ring-rustiness and frustration to brush off when injuries bit deep into our wing back options and McClean returned to the side at Ipswich.

What a challenge! The Tractorboys are finding their rhythm after a faltering start to the season as they coped with the inevitable squad churn caused by relegation from the Premier League.

Their squad is stacked with talent, and McClean found himself up against Sindre Walle Egeli, a Norwegian wonderkid who has already lined up for his national side alongside Erling Haaland.

It all sounds daunting, but if you know McClean you know that this is exactly the situation he craves for. He wants to be challenged, bristles against suggestions he might be vulnerable to a pacy opponent, and had an indomitable fighting spirit.

So, restored to the captaincy, he led by example. We had to dig in and work hard for our clean sheet, and McClean embodied the attitude the defensive unit required. He fought like hell, tackling, heading, standing firm.

Egeli looked dangerous, but never got past McClean. In fact, he never really tried to. I mean, would you? How well insured are you?

The only time Ipswich managed to get in behind McClean was when they worked an overload and sent the right back Darnell Furlong forward on the outside. Egeli likes cutting in onto his stronger left foot anyway, but he showed with a superbly-struck shot in the second half that he’s got a good right foot on him too. He wasn’t going to risk using it by taking McClean on, though!

McClean wasn’t able to drive us forwards as he often does – it wasn’t that sort of game. However, the one time we carved a chance out inside the box came when he ripped a terrific cross in to the edge of the six box in the second half. Unfortunately, with a mass of bodies in front of him, Josh Windass saw it to late to react, and the ball bounced away off his shin.

A seemingly minor, but significant moment in our Summer recruitment drive was the timing of the announcement that McClean had signed a new contract. It was confirmed a day after we signed Cacace, and said a lot about the spirit Phil Parkinson has fostered at the SToK Cae Ras, and McClean’s enthusiasm to continue playing a leadership role for Parkinson.

Cacace, after all, was a significant signing. He has captained his country and was coming off the back of a season in which he was a regular in Serie A. He was clearly not brought in to make up the numbers, and was an obvious threat to McClean’s starting place on the left.

For McClean to be talking the next day about his new deal sent a clear message. He wasn’t about to shirk a challenge, and wanted to see the Wrexham project through.

There would be no issues with his ego, and to be fair there never has been.

McClean is a strong character, obviously. However, he’s clearly driven by his values – love of family, loyalty to the club, appreciation of the fans and wanting to get the best out of himself – rather than a desire to catch the eye.

Attracting players cut from the same cloth is something Parkinson has done exceptionally well, of course, but McClean stands out. He has played at the highest level, has over a hundred international caps, but still wants to put himself at the service of the club, first and foremost.

That’s what we want at Wrexham, and he set a glorious example on Saturday.