James McClean will miss Stoke's Championship clash with Blackburn at the weekend after being suspended by his club; McClean has been disciplined for breaching protocols around coronavirus restrictions
Friday 15 January 2021 14:14, UK
James McClean has been suspended by Stoke for an alleged breach of Covid-19 regulations, namely training in a private gym.
McClean will not be involved in Saturday's Championship game against Blackburn as the club await the outcome of an internal probe.
"Stoke City can confirm that James McClean has been suspended with immediate effect pending a disciplinary hearing into an alleged breach of COVID-19 regulations, namely training in a private gym," the club said in a statement.
"As a result of the suspension, McClean will not be available for selection for Saturday's game against Blackburn Rovers."
McClean has played 16 league games for Stoke this season, with Stoke in eighth place in the Championship table.
He is not the first player to be suspended by his club, with Rangers duo Jordan Jones and George Edmundson suffering the same fate in November.
"The chairman Douglas Park, Ross Wilson, Steven Gerrard and I discussed this matter as soon as it was brought to our attention," Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson said at the time.
"We are completely aligned in our action and the standards that are being set at Rangers.
"We will not tolerate behaviour that does not follow those standards and it is totally unacceptable for any of our players to be involved in anything that puts at risk the excellent protocols that have been put in place at Rangers."
