A few months shy of his 31st birthday and around 500 professional games into his footballing career, James McClean is still mad for road. 

"No," he admitted to Off the Ball after giving it a few seconds, "there's never a day I'm not in the gym.

"I wouldn't say I'm body-conscious, but I like to pride myself on my fitness and I like working out."

Noted for his relentless energy in a Republic of Ireland jersey, the work that goes into facilitating that commands a sizable portion of the Derry native's time.

A teetotaller who has designs on playing football for another decade if his body holds up, James McClean explained the lengths he went to in being assured of his fitness.

"I've always been good at running," he admitted, "did athletics at school and was always mobile.

"I find it quite soothing if I have an issue that it can calm me down, but my wife will tell you like, on a Saturday, win, lose or draw, I'll go home and I've got a personal gym there.

"I'll be sitting in the house and then get itchy feet and go out at the gym at 8 or 9 at night and do a workout.

"They tell me at the club that I need a new hobby."

Unconcerned by the possibility of burnout and uninterested in taking more frequent breaks, James McClean's determination is endless.

"When we book a holiday," he admitted, "I'll plan a training camp in the holiday but I'll go and do it early in the morning.

"I can be back in time for breakfast and have the rest of the day with my wife and family.

"The benefits are two-fold though. I enjoy doing the workout and it brings more to my game then.

"It works both ways."

You can watch back James McClean's interview with Off the Ball in its entirety here. 

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