Tricky winger facing a tricky Tynecastle trip

After yet another stupid booking at the weekend, Aiden McGeady is now facing the possibility of missing out on the Celtic v Rangers New Year match.

If the Irish winger picks up a booking on Sunday at Tynecastle, he will be suspended for the top of the table clash.

There may be some hope for Celtic fans in the fact that the referee for Sunday’s clash is Willie Collum. Collum has refereed two top flight Celtic games this season but he has only delivered one booking to a Celtic player so far.

Sadly, that player was Aiden McGeady.

In total, Collum has refereed eight league matches and has delivered a total of 16 bookings, averaging at two per match.

Given that Aiden McGeady will be booed from kick-off by a Hearts fan who appreciate the skills shown by tricky opposition wingers (wait, sorry, that is the Derek Johnstone explanation for booing opposition players, Jambos hate McGeady because he chose to play for Ireland and all that entails), playing on a narrow pitch in a highly charged atmosphere, there is every chance that McGeady will be booked.

One thing that can be agreed upon is that this news will bring out the worse elements in the hardcore fans of both Celtic and Rangers fans.

Some Celtic fans will feel it is inevitable that McGeady will pick up a booking at Tynecastle as the SFA set out to deprive Celtic of their creative force for the big New Year clash.

For all his skill, McGeady does show petulance at times and if he picks up a booking, there is every chance it will be fully deserved. However, if any Celtic fans are of this way of thinking, stick some money on Aiden being booked and at least you will win some money to soften the blow.

If Aiden does get a booking, it will no doubt have Rangers fans digging out their ‘ambulance chasing’ nonsense and banners as they will expect Celtic to find any loophole to enable their key player to play.

For all the noise that Rangers fans make, you can guarantee that all at Celtic would rather have had Phil O’Donnell still around than Aiden McGeady on the park. Clear thinking is not always applied to these games though.

Spirit of goodwill to all men is obviously lacking when it comes to Celtic and Rangers fans at any time of year but when it comes to crunch, it is nowhere to be found.

It is vital for Celtic to pick up all three points at Tynecastle so there is very little chance of McGeady being rested. Hoops fans will have to hope he can conjure up the skill to win the match without giving the referee any reason to discipline him.

It will be a nervous few days for Aiden McGeady, Tony Mowbray and Celtic fans.

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