Strachan struggles to explain McGeady's absence

Published on Saturday 3 January 2009 22:47

GORDON Strachan claimed Celtic's recent form and the under-21 rule were the reasons that Aiden McGeady was not recalled to his squad yesterday following the winger's two-week suspension by the club for verbally abusing his manager.

Victories in McGeady's absence away to Falkirk and in the derby win at Ibrox have strengthened Strachan's position in his handling of the matter. But having returned to training on Tuesday, last season's PFA player and young player was expected to at least earn a place on the bench. McGeady watched from a hospitality box as Celtic squandered a two-goal lead against Dundee United, and Strachan may now be in danger of boxing himself in over his treatment of a 22-year-old he clearly sees as a problem player.

"I stayed faithful to the squad for the last two games and there is the under-21 rule which I have complained consistently about and other managers have complained consistently about," he said in a weak response to being asked why McGeady was not stripped.

Georgios Samaras was equally evasive when questioned as to whether he was surprised his team chose to do without a player the Greek has claimed could play in any company. "That decision is for the gaffer," said the striker who took his tally for the term to a season-best 14 goals with a double yesterday. "He trained on Tuesday and looked fit but who is going to play and who is not is up to the gaffer and I can't say if he is fit or not."

Fitness was not the issue.

Samaras claimed Celtic had been "suicidal" and suffered "a black-out" in being pegged back through being "very bad" in a final half hour during which Strachan bemoaned his team failed to play "commonsense football".

United manager Craig Levein expressed his satisfaction in the way his young players are progressing, but maintained that this progress deserved to manifest itself in "at least one win" from the four draws they have fought out with the Old Firm this season during an 18-game run in which the Tannadice club have lost only once.

"We were dreadful in the first half and lucky only to be 1-0 down at half-time," he said. "But this group of players are never beaten; that's something that is very admirable. They deserved a point for their second half performance."