He quickly became a regular player for Grays, making 59 league appearances before switching to Peterborough United in 2006; initially on loan, which became permanent the following year.

Initially a regular player for Hull, he fell out of favour following the club's promotion to the Premier League, and moved on loan to Ipswich Town and then Birmingham City in 2013.

Despite suffering injury, McLean finished the season with a total of 18 league goals in 39 appearances and was Peterborough's highest scorer behind Craig Mackail-Smith.

[9] He made his debut in the New Year's Day game with Leicester City coming on as a first-half substitute to replace Jamie Devitt.

[11] McLean scored his first goal of the 2011–12 season, on 10 September, against his old club, Peterborough United at London Road Stadium.

[13] On 29 October 2011 against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, a ball over the top sent Mclean racing away from his marker and he kept his cool to smash home a shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.

[15] On 11 August 2012, McLean scored Hull's first competitive goal of the season against Rotherham United at the KC Stadium in the League Cup.

[17] Upon arrival McLean made negative remarks about Ipswich town centre, a reaction which disappointed the leader of the local council.

[20] He made his debut two days later, as a second-half substitute as Birmingham drew with Blackpool,[21] and then scored both goals as the club's development squad beat their Newcastle United counterparts in the U21 Premier League Cup.

[22] When it came to light that McLean had been ineligible, having played for his parent club in an earlier round, Birmingham withdrew from the competition.

[25] On 16 January 2014 McLean signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with League One club Bradford City for an undisclosed fee.