James McClean produced perhaps his best performance in a Stoke City shirt as he inspired a comeback from 1-0 down to win 2-1.

Michael O’Neill toasted the midfielder’s all-round game and was asked how he would cope with him if Northern Ireland came up against the Republic in the Euro 2020 qualifying play-off final.

O’Neill said: “We’ll get him doing double sessions all the week before if that happens! 20km a day! He does that anyway, James, to be honest.

“He’s a player I’ve always admired and he’s shown his worth at international level.

“I thought he was excellent at Barnsley as well.

“If you simplify the game for James he is very effective and that’s what we’ve tried to do with him. He put in some great crosses.

“He was very unlucky with the run. It would have been a goal you would have been talking about for a long time here - and he’s playing with confidence. That’s the most important thing, that all the players play with confidence.

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“Again, he will be a player that will be massive for us until the end of the season.

(As for any prospective qualifying final v the Republic) I haven’t given it a moment’s thought. My only focus is on Cardiff.”

Supporters were in a rare consensus about his performance.

Barry Hodgkinson: Worked hard, great attitude, great tackle that he wrongly got booked for and the same as the Barnsley game looked up for it.

Philip John Harvey: Excellent performance. Man of the match.

Mark Gilbert: His best performance to date.

Peter Jackson: Played his heart out driving forward every opportunity well deserved man of the match.

Hayley Bould: Absolutely fantastic! So glad he got Man of the Match, well deserved!

Andrew Newman: Outstanding. The embodiment of what we expect from Stoke players. Fight. Passion. Pride.

Betty Birkin: Fantastic he run his heart out Hope he isn't injured now.

David Wright: Man of the match by far. Amazing what players can do when played in their proper position, Nathan!

Mick Oakden: Best game fantastic performance

Steven Hubbard: His best performance in a Stoke shirt. Excellent from start to finish.

Nicola Burkhill: Brilliant MOTM by a country mile.

Matt Hodgkinson: Love to see everyone has finally grown to McClean instead of slating him.

Steve Wallace: Brilliant today......been very good most games.

Dave Knapper: His usual all-action, committed performance, which some fans have continually overlooked.

Jimmy Poisson: Constant brilliant crossing and endless running. Might have been sent off, nearly scored goal of the season, pulled his hamstring but stayed on and then got into a fight at the end. Like a time bomb. Man of the match by a mile.

Dave Taylor: Excellent, just like at Barnsley. Keep up the good work.

Ian Sumnall: Thought he was excellent. Fully committed.

Barry J Moult: I didn't see the game but there is a consistent message that he was awesome.

Gordon Champ: Best performance by a Stoke player this season.

Michael Wallbanks: Brilliant!

Lisa Cobden: Outstanding today. My man of the match by a mile.

Andy Riley: Thoroughly deserved man of the match ...he was brilliant!

Andrew Ward: 90 minutes away on international duty full 90 minutes today and out ran everyone on the pitch deserved the three points on his efforts alone.

Gareth Moulton: Never stopped working hard all game! Love or hate him his commitment on the pitch is there to see.

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Peter Lambe: Man of the match! Played by a manager that knows where to play players. Square pegs in square holes!

Ian McDonnell: Proper workhorse.