Marco Tardelli has refused to rule out James McClean's chances of forcing his way into the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 team.

The 23-year-old Sunderland winger has enjoyed a remarkable six months after emerging from the shadows under Martin O'Neill on Wearside and establishing himself as a first-team regular.

McClean's rise to prominence since his £350,000 summer move from Derry City has been little short of spectacular, and he was recognised at senior international level when he won his first cap as a substitute against the Czech Republic in February.

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Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has worked hard to calm the excitement over the emerging talent, but has been impressed by what he has seen so far, as has his assistant Tardelli.

The former Italy international said: 'He is a good boy. He wants to work because he knows he needs to learn many things.

'He is strong physically and I think he will be for us a good player.'

Trapattoni has signalled his intention to work with the left-sided McClean on the right flank too, having seen him prosper when cutting inside for his club.

It remains to be seen how the manager will use him during the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, but asked if he still has time to win a place in the starting XI, Tardelli was noncommittal.

He said: 'I don't know. He is in the squad, but we have also other players like [Damien] Duff, like [Stephen] Hunt, like [Aiden] McGeady.

'Surely, he is the future, but maybe it is possible also this time.'

Trapattoni and Tardelli put their players through a light training session at a sun-drenched Gannon Park in Malahide this morning.

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