Updated at 13.17
FORMER SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL Gordon McQueen has criticised James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady for choosing to play for Ireland.
The Everton pair were both born and raised in Scotland but are eligible to play for the Boys in Green and opted to do so from a young age.
Ahead of Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier at Celtic Park, Scotland manager Gordon Strachan said he had no issues with the Tartan Army booing both players for purely football reasons.
And Sky Sports pundit McQueen, who earned 30 senior international caps, has gone a step further by claiming they deserve to receive a “horrible reception” for their decisions.
“I hate that: I’ve got no time for these players,” The Telegraph report McQueen as saying. “You’re born in Glasgow but then you go and play for somebody else? What’s that all about? I’m not having that at all.
“Will it be hard for them coming back here with Ireland? I really hope so. I hope they get a horrible reception because they deserve it. I’m sure somebody must have asked them to play or Scotland at some stage.”
O’Neill would almost certainly start both players but McCarthy has emerged as a major injury doubt along with Stoke defender Marc Wilson after suffering soreness in his hamstring at the end of the Toffees’ 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
Ex Leeds and Manchester United defender McQueen added that he believes the home crowd will help the Scots earn victory in Glasgow.
“I think we’ll beat Ireland at Celtic Park,” he said. “I thought that Celtic had some very average sides at times but European teams coming to Parkhead were intimidated by the atmosphere there.
“There are certain grounds where the crowd just gets to the opposition.”
Ray Houghton has since responded to McQueen’s comments, telling the Irish Daily Star:
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion and it’s what he [McQueen] feels.
“I don’t know their backgrounds, if they had a good or bad situation with Scotland, but mine was crap. When I chose Ireland, Scotland were not in for me.
“My advice to the lads is, you will get stick so be ready for it.”
