He did not train on Wednesday but is confident ice and rest will enable him to play, if selected, against the Poles, and he will not be holding back if he gets the opportunity.

McClean said: “Sometimes a good crunching tackle is almost like a goal, it gets the crowd going. Make no mistake about it, if there’s a chance there to go through someone, I’m going to take it.

“That’s just my game. I’m a committed player and if that’s the case, then I’ll be happy to oblige.”

Poland are currently three points clear of Ireland, Scotland and world champions Germany, who are locked together on seven, but they will be without Borussia Dortmund duo Jakub Blaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczek in Dublin, although McClean is not convinced that will make too much difference.

He said: “Look, they are two world-class players at a great club in Dortmund, but I am sure whoever comes in is going to be equally good and we have got to prepare and take on board whoever is playing and do the job that we would do if those two were playing.

“If you look at the table, we are joint-second, Poland are top – if we win on Sunday, we go level with Poland, so we know what we have to do.

“Hopefully on Sunday, we can put on a show and get the result that’s needed.”