Hi °C | Lo °C Celtic manager Gordon Strachan brushed off questions concerning suspended midfielder Aiden McGeady after his team’s 3-0 win at Falkirk yesterday.
According to one report, McGeady apologised within 48 hours of his dressing-room bust-up with Strachan last week.
The 22-year-old Republic of Ireland star reportedly reacted in vitriolic fashion to criticism by Strachan after a 1-1 draw with Hearts at Parkhead last weekend, and he was consequently handed a two-week suspension from the first team and a fine of two weeks’ wages.
The player’s agent, David Holbrook, claimed that no apology had been requested nor forthcoming, with many people believing McGeady had played his last game for the club.
Strachan, whose side restored their lead over Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to four points with their win at the Falkirk Stadium, was then asked about the validity of the latest McGeady story.
He retorted: "I think the internet have got that wrong again. It depends what internet you go to."
Reminded that the story had emanated from a Sunday newspaper, Strachan then replied: "We will keep that in-house."
McGeady’s replacement was Koki Mizuno who made his first start for the club since signing from J-League side JEF United in January.
And he became a new hero to the Hoops support, who had, somewhat surprisingly, begun the afternoon chanting in support of McGeady.
After Georgios Samaras had headed the visitors in front three minutes after the break, the 23-year-old Japanese midfielder clinched the points in the last minute after he took a pass from compatriot Shunsuke Nakamura and poked it under Bairns goalkeeper Robert Olejnik.
There was still time for striker Scott McDonald to add a third in stoppage-time.
Strachan, who revealed that captain Stephen McManus will have a scan today on the knee injury which led him to miss this game, explained why it had taken so long for Mizuno to make his first start.
He said: "He had to wait a long time because we had people playing in his position who have been doing very well.
"He has needed to get used to the Scottish culture and climate because he came straight from Japan, not like Nakamura who went to Italy first.
"I thought the two Japanese players were phenomenal.
"Scott McDonald got man of the match but it could have been Nakamura, he did everything and he was so brave on the ball.
"Koki gave us good width, good change of pace and good crosses and he gave us a goal as well."
While McManus must be a doubt for the Old Firm clash at Ibrox next week, Paul Hartley should by then have recovered from the virus which kept him in bed.
Strachan said: "Paul Hartley woke up with a bad virus.
"I don’t know how serious Stephen’s injury is, we will see on Monday."
