McGeady: I’ll be abused

Ireland winger Aiden McGeady admits it is inevitable he will suffer abuse from the Tartan Army when he returns to Scotland for the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

The Paisley-born Everton attacker sparked controversy as a Celtic teenager when he announced he would commit himself to Ireland rather than the land of his birth.

That decision made him a target for opposition supporters at grounds across Scotland during his six-year Parkhead spell.

Now the 27-year-old says he expects to face more flak when Martin O’Neill’s side take on Scotland on November 14 — a match likely to be played at his old Celtic Park stomping ground.

Speaking as he helped launch the PFA Scotland Player of the Year Awards, McGeady said: “It’ll be strange playing against Scotland at Celtic Park. Although if it’s at Celtic Park, it might give Ireland the advantage because there will probably be a lot of fans there in the Scotland end who are actually Ireland fans.

“Do I expect to get stick? Yeah, probably, because you still get the odd bit when you’re out and about but that’s football for you.

“I’m old enough now to deal with it, though.”