Mick: McGeady and McCarthy can expect to get slaughtered

Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is backing Glaswegians Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy to bat away the abuse they’ll receive from Scottish fans on Friday.

The Ipswich Town boss has no objection to home fans jeering the pair — in fact he considers it a compliment to their talents.

“Of course, Scotland fans are entitled (to boo),” said McCarthy ahead of the Euro 2016 Group D qualifier. “It’s a nonsense. They (McGeady and McCarthy) will get slaughtered, but I tell you what — it don’t half make it sweet when you win.

“I can’t ever remember going to an away ground and being made feel welcome. I never wanted that.

“The only time I got cheered by opposition fans was at Dundee United — and that was after my mistake gave them a goal.

“I always wanted to feel that resistance towards me, that dislike for you, because it inspires you. We were in Seville one year with Ireland and you could get hit by an orange wherever you stood on the pitch. There was all sorts going on.

“Now I am not advocating that on Friday, but what I am saying is that the Scottish fans want Scotland to win. Why on earth would they make it comfortable for any Irish player?

“I can just imagine all the Scottish fans saying ‘Mick says don’t boo them, we’ll be nice, we’ll leave them alone.’ Do me a favour!”

Meanwhile, former Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness has revealed he tried to recruit Roy Keane for Liverpool before the Corkman opted for their rivals Manchester United in 2003.

“I did enquire about signing Roy from Nottingham Forest but he was always destined for Manchester United,” he explained.

“He was a brilliant player and man, even when he was young, playing with a belief that very few young men do.

“Roy developed into someone with a real attitude on the pitch, which is what I love.

“He was like, ‘I’m the main fucking man here, so get out of my way’. I loved it. In football terms, that belief is an enormous plus.

“He turned out to be one of the best of his generation.”

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