McGeady expects Celtic chop for Old Firm game

Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady expects to be sacrificed for the visit of Rangers in the CIS Insurance Cup quarter-final on Wednesday if Chris Sutton recovers from injury.

The 19-year-old inspired the Hoops to a 3-0 win at Falkirk in his first start since the 4-4 draw at Motherwell on the opening day of the Bank of Scotland Premier League season.

However, the youngster was a late inclusion against the Bairns when Sutton was ruled out with an injury to the back of his knee.

But, despite winning the man-of-the-match award at the Falkirk Stadium, McGeady is ready to stand down again if the ex-Chelsea man returns.

He said: “I am looking forward to the game on Wednesday and I hope I have given the manager a bit of a selection headache.

“I really want to play in the game because it’s an Old Firm game and I am playing well.

“But it’s going to be hard to stay in the team if Chris comes back because we have been doing so well and he is a massive player for us. That’s going to be a tough one.”

But the Republic of Ireland international is hoping he has done enough to give Celtic boss Gordon Strachan food for thought in the future.

McGeady said: “It has been very frustrating sitting on the bench and waiting for my chance.

“But the main thing was taking it when it came and I did that.

“I have worked really hard in training and not let my head go down.

‘Hopefully, I will get another run-out soon, but the manager has shown that, if you play well, then you will stay in the team.

“I just have to make sure I make it as hard as possible for him to leave me out.

“It is the first time I have started for a long time, but I enjoyed being back.

“I don’t lack confidence and I’m sure the manager saw that at Falkirk. All the players want to be part of this.”

Celtic striker Shaun Maloney also caught the eye against the Bairns with his 41st-minute opener in a fine display.

McGeady said: “Shaun’s on fire at the moment. In fact, he has been like that since the start of the season.

“He had a bad injury, but has done brilliantly to come back from that and now looks like he belongs at the top level.

“It’s good for the manager that he has so many good players at his disposal.”

Falkirk head coach John Hughes believes both young players deserve credit for their displays.

He said: “Maloney and McGeady were fantastic.

“It’s great for Gordon that he has these young players coming through but Maloney was stop drawer.”