McAlinden signed his first professional contract in 2010 with Wolves, before making his senior debut on 27 April 2013 as a substitute in a 1–2 defeat to Burnley. The striker has represented Northern Ireland at youth levels as, although born in England, he qualified through his grandfather. However, in June 2013, he switched his allegiance to the Republic of Ireland, from which his parents hail. He scored his first senior goal on 3 September 2013 in a Football League Trophy tie against Walsall. Later in the season, he scored his first Wolves league goal to earn a 1–0 victory at MK Dons in March 2014 as the team went on to win promotion back to the Championship. In October 2013 McAlinden was loaned to fellow League One club Shrewsbury Town for three months. He scored on his club debut after coming on as a substitute against Gillingham, the first of three goals in nine appearances before being recalled by Wolves in early December. In October 2014 McAlinden moved on a three-month-loan deal to League One Fleetwood Town. However, after scoring twice in his first 5 appearances for Fleetwood, he was recalled to cover injuries at his parent club. On 15 January 2015 McAlinden returned on loan to Fleetwood for the remainder of the season, where he scored two further goals during 14 appearances. McAlinden returned to Shrewsbury Town for a second time on a half-season loan in July 2015. In March 2016 he signed a loan deal with Crawley Town until the end of the 2015–16 season. McAlinden was released by Wolverhampton at the end of the 2015–16 season after his contract was not renewed.
On 31 May 2016, McAlinden signed for League Two club Exeter City. He scored his first goal for Exeter in a 2–1 defeat to Hartlepool United on 13 August 2016. He was released by Exeter at the end of the 2017–18 season.
Follow his release from Exeter, McAlinden signed a two-year deal with League Two side Cheltenham Town on 28 July 2018. On 15 December 2018, McAllinden joined Brackley Town on an initial month's loan. He then returned to Cheltenham after one month, and two days later, he then joined Kidderminster Harriers also on loan deal for one month. The club announced on 21 February 2019, that the loan deal had been extended until the end of the season.
