McLean arrived on loan from Pitching In Northern Premier League Division One West side Newcastle Town in February 2021 and featured as a substitute against Brackley Town in what turned out to be the Bulls final league game of the season.

Having already featured in the Buildbase FA Trophy for Newcastle, McLean was unavailable for the Bulls during the Trophy run but continued to train with the squad.

McLean signed for Newcastle in 2019/20 from league rivals Market Drayton Town.

He has bags of pace and is a real handful for defenders as his direct play sees him scoring goals and creating chances for others.

He caught the eye of Stoke City whilst on nearby Newcastle`s books.

Manager Josh Gowling told https://www.herefordfc.co.uk: “Ryan came to our attention after having a trial at Port Vale and came in on loan, he’ll add a lot of pace to the team, he’s quick, direct, and has a great understanding of the game. He’s an exciting player, and I’m sure he’ll be a real crowd-pleaser.

“He’s added goals to his game in recent seasons, so he’s got a real all-round game and I’m expecting big things of him this season”.