Martin O'Neill has turned the row around Auston Trusty into a public defence of the defender, saying he has full backing while he remains away on compassionate grounds after his father's death. Celtic's former striker Frank McAvennie apologised after comments that asked how long Trusty should be away, but O'Neill's intervention made the club's stance clear again.
O'Neill's defence of Trusty
Trusty has missed Celtic's last four games, against Celta Vigo, Hibernian, Dundee United and Falkirk. O'Neill said Trusty asked for time off and that he had given him all the time he wants, adding that the defender has the backing of himself and the club.
The important part is not just the apology from McAvennie, but that it did not settle the issue on its own. His later post on the Let Me Be Frank podcast's account on X acknowledged that his words were insensitive and said he meant no disrespect, yet O'Neill still felt the need to answer the criticism directly.
McAvennie's apology and the line Celtic have drawn
McAvennie's original remarks questioned how long Trusty wanted off and suggested he should get on with it. He later wrote that everyone deals with grief differently and wished Trusty and his family all the very best.
O'Neill's response was firmer and more personal. He said he would not want anyone telling him how long to grieve for a brother or sister, and stressed that Trusty's father's health had been poor for quite some considerable time. That leaves Celtic with a clear public position, even if the row around McAvennie's comments has not simply vanished with one apology.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
