The way James McClean has taken the chance given to him by Martin O'Neill is a lesson to other players.
I hope his performances for Sunderland will prompt Giovanni Trapattoni to call him up for the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 campaign.
Role model: McClean is flourishing under O'Neill
I know Trapattoni wants to remain loyal to the players who qualified for Euro 2012 and has not selected McClean for the forthcoming friendly against the Czech Republic, but it is not too late.
It happens quite a lot that just before a major finals someone comes along under the radar to have a big impact.
McClean is 22 and cost Sunderland only £350,000 from Derry City back in the summer and just look at how he's responded to the opportunity.
He has the energy and desire and is relishing being given an opportunity to play for his club. In his first game in charge, O'Neill gave McClean his first run-out as a substitute and then gave him his starting debut in their 1-0 win against Manchester City.
Chris Samba impressed me as a player but went down in my estimation because of his attitude towards playing for Blackburn Rovers.
McClean was given a chance at Sunderland and didn't look back. He's not only grabbed it but has been one of O'Neill's best players.
I've got so much admiration for him in this day and age when every player wants money, cars and all the trappings before they've even kicked a ball. McClean just wants to play.
If you've got hunger, desire and genuinely want to play - and if you put money, battles with managers and off-field problems out of your mind - you can do it.
O'Neill has done an unbelievable job in his time at Sunderland and McClean has been one of his key players.
Fix it: Roman Abramovich has a word with Andre Villas-Boas (right) Owners on the prowlAS a player, when I saw Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis at our training ground, I used to think, 'What's he doing here? Hasn't he got anything better to do?' But that's changing.
Wolves owner Steve Morgan went into the dressing room and had a go at the players after they lost 3-0 to Liverpool. Tony Fernandes is on Twitter more than Stephen Fry talking about QPR.
And in the past week, Roman Abramovich has been popping into Chelsea's training ground.
He's ploughed the best part of £1billion into the club and he wants to know what's going on.
Owners have a right to know how their money is being spent.
And while old-school managers won't like it, they had better get used to it.
More... Cold snap forces several Football League games to be postponed All the Barclays Premier League team news ahead of the weekend
