Sunderland have accepted an undisclosed bid from Wigan for winger James McClean, reports said yesterday.

Should a deal now be done for the 24-year-old to drop down to the Championship, it will bring to an end a colourful stay on Wearside.

McClean was signed by former manager Martin O’Neill from Derry City in 2011 and made an immediate impact when thrown into the Sunderland first team. International honours soon followed, although with the Republic of Ireland rather than his native Northern Ireland.

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni took a liking to him and selected McClean for Euro 2012, but new Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio does not seem to be as big a fan and is willing to allow him to leave.

McClean made 70 appearances for Sunderland scoring 11 goals.

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