JAMES MCCLEAN admits he would have given the man of the match award to Ryan Barnett if he scooped the gong in Saturday's brilliant 4-1 victory against Northampton Town at The Racecourse.

Barnett won the accolade after playing a starring role in the success, with the 25-year-old having three assists and a hand in the other goal.

Fellow wing-back McClean was a contender after scoring twice and having an assist himself but the Reds' captain said the award went to the right person.

"If I had been awarded man of the match, I think I would have handed it to Barney myself," said McClean.

"He was outstanding and he deserves all the plaudits.

"We had a joke in the dressing room about the one where he went through and passed to Fletch. 

"Just keep going yourself because it was that kind of afternoon where he was unplayable and that will do his confidence the world of good, not that he was lacking that anyway because his performances week in, week out have been terrific.

"Since I have come here he has been absolutely brilliant. One v one, I would back him to beat his full-back and for me it is just about getting in the box because nine times out of 10, his delivery is very good.

"We say to each other every game 'let's set each other up'. It hasn't always happened but it was bang on the money against Northampton."

McClean netted twice from a Barnett cross, with Jack Marriott and Elliot Lee also capitalising from balls into the box from the former Solihull Moors man.

"It's an old cliche but the game is won and lost in both boxes," said McClean.

"If you are constantly putting balls in the box and you have got players who are willing to attack them, and are good at attacking them, then you are always going to cause teams issues."

McClean is delighted to get his first goals of the season.

"To get off the mark...I have been a bit unlucky this season," he said.

"I have hit the bar and hit the post so I was due one. It is nice to get off and running and overall, it was a very good afternoon."

Wrexham took one point from the previous two away games and McClean stressed the importance of bouncing back, with victory keeping Wrexham second in the table with 20 points from the opening 10 games.

"It was important after the last two games that we got back to winning ways," he said.

"Even the Crawley game here, we got the win but we weren't at our best but we ticked all the boxes against Northampton.

"We got a convincing win and put in a performance worthy of us.

"You want to build momentum and hopefully we can now go on a run, and keep that momentum going.

"Any win, no matter what stage of the season, is important and hopefully come the business end of the season we are there or thereabouts and challenging to go up."