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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Irishman involved in car accident</li><li>Declared himself fit for duty</li><li>Typically energetic versus Blues</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

'He's a machine' - Phil Parkinson hails James McClean after Wrexham star shines for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side against Birmingham a matter of hours after horror car crash

League One

Crawley

Wrexham

Birmingham

Rotherham

<p>The former Republic of Ireland international was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wrexham-s-james-mcclean-involved-in-car-accident-on-way-to-training-league-one-club-issue-worrying-statement/bltc61052b1610bb466" target="_blank">fortunate to walk away from a horror crash relatively unscathed</a>, with only minor injuries being suffered. He was expected to sit out a ‘Hollywood Derby’ date at SToK Racecourse after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wrexham-star-james-mcclean-update-horror-car-crash-blasts-smelly-scruffy-pathetic-creatures-messaged-wife/blt7b9eff3c9e035f33" target="_blank">being seriously shaken up</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>McClean was, however, to declare himself fit for duty and led Wrexham out as captain against Birmingham just 36 hours after experiencing a scary incident in his private life. Unsurprisingly, the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/paul-mullin-wrexham-team-mate-james-mcclean-peacemaker-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney/blt57333f13a3124802" target="_blank">mercurial 35-year-old</a> put in an energetic performance that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-best-side-rob-mcelhenney-message-wrexham-fans-hollywood-derby-tom-brady-birmingham/blt9d743db026c3c39f" target="_blank">helped the Red Dragons to a 1-1 draw with fellow promotion hopefuls</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson told reporters afterwards: “Tonight typified Jimmy. At 9am, we get a call to say he’s been involved in an accident and he can’t leave the scene of the incident until the police arrive. He then needs medical assistance, has to go in and see the club doctor. We’re writing him off at this stage (in terms of playing in the Birmingham game). </p><p>“But then, halfway through the team meeting at the training ground, he walks in with his boots over his shoulder and says, ‘I’ll be fine’. Jim even trained on Wednesday as normal. Mad, really. But that’s just typical of Jim. There’s no dramas with him.”</p>

WHAT PHIL PARKINSON SAID

<p>Parkinson went on to say of his skipper: “You need players who thrive in big games. Jim certainly did that against Birmingham. That cross he put in for [Steven] Fletcher near the end… wow, that was just such high quality. The defender (Ben Davies) did brilliantly to nick it off Fletcher’s head. Fletch was just about to head that in.</p><p>“Football doesn’t change, you need strong characters in the dressing room if you’re to be a top team. Jim is so tough. A couple of weeks ago, he had a scan on his hamstring. There was a split in the tendon, which could easily have ruled him out for weeks. But we had a meeting with him, me and Kev Mulholland (Wrexham’s head of medicine). The risk was explained to him, but Jim just said, ‘That’s fine. I just want to keep training and playing’. He’s a machine - exactly what you want from your captain.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>McClean <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/jet-lag-wrexham-star-james-mcclean-pays-price-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-promotion-party-las-vegas/bltc988b2a39719aaff" target="_blank">helped Wrexham to promotion out of League Two</a> in his debut campaign with the club. He is now looking to take another step up the EFL ladder, with more drama being delivered for <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/more-series-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhnney-make-welcome-to-wrexham-as-long-as-they-can-deadpool-actor-more-emotionally-attached-red-dragons-than-marvel-hollywood/bltc2428a5bcd998f4c " target="_blank">Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s award-winning documentary series</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

'He's a machine' - Phil Parkinson hails James McClean after Wrexham star shines for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side against Birmingham a matter of hours after horror car crash | Goal.com

James McClean has been hailed as a “machine” after starring for Wrexham against Birmingham a matter of hours after being involved in a car accident.

&apos;He&apos;s a machine&apos; - Phil Parkinson hails James McClean after Wrexham star shines for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney&apos;s side against Birmingham a matter of hours after horror car crash

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