Former Scotland forward Frank McAvennie has apologised after describing Auston Trusty’s extended absence following his father’s death as ‘woke nonsense’.
Trusty announced the death of his father Walt last month, with the United States’ international sharing a touching tribute on Instagram.
The 28-year-old has since sat out matches against Celta Vigo, Hibernian, Dundee United and Falkirk.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, speaking prior to the match against Falkirk on Sunday, confirmed Trusty was still yet to return as he was ‘celebrating the life of his dad’.
Celtic subsequently fell to a shock 2-0 defeat to Falkirk, with O’Neill’s side having won just one of their four matches in Trusty’s absence.
McAvennie, who scored 37 goals in 85 games across two spells with Celtic, questioned the length of Trusty’s absence following the bereavement.
Auston Trusty announced the death of his father Walt in an emotional Instagram post last month. (Source: Instagram/austontrusty3)
Ex-Celtic forward Frank McAvennie has apologised after labelling Trusty’s absence as ‘woke’ on his podcast as he claimed the defender had to ‘get on with it’. (Source: Let Me Be Frank podcast)
Trusty thanked his father for his ‘guidance and unwavering dedication to our family’ on social media and stated he would ‘spend my life trying to make you proud’. (Source: Instagram/austontrusty3)
‘I’ve got every respect for that, but how long do you want off?’ McAvennie said on his Let Me Be Frank Podcast.
‘Martin says he’s away to celebrate the life of his dad. Celebrate the life? You’ve got football. You’re getting paid and we’re in trouble. How long is it going to be?
‘It’s the woke brigade now, isn’t it? It’s nonsense. My dad was the best man, the only man I looked up to when he died, but you’ve got to get on with it.’
McAvennie has since apologised after a backlash to his remarks, with the 66-year-old admitting ‘I should have chosen my words more carefully.’
‘I’ve seen some of the reaction to comments I made on the podcast about Auston’s absence from football following the death of his father,’ McAvennie said.
‘I can understand why people feel my comments were insensitive, and looking back, I should have chosen my words more carefully.
‘Everyone deals with grief differently, and I certainly meant no disrespect to Auston or his family.
‘Celtic need the big man back, and that’s what I was clumsily trying to say. I wish him and his family all the very best.’
Trusty has missed Celtic’s last four matches following the death of his father last month
McAvennie was part of the Celtic side that won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup in the 1987-88 season. He scored both of Celtic’s goals in a 2-1 victory over Dundee United in the cup final.
The forward also helped West Ham secure promotion in 1991 during the second of his two spells with the Hammers.
McAvennie sold medals he won to Celtic-supporting businessman Lord Willie Haughey in 2000, after facing financial difficulties having appeared in court in a drugs trial that year.
He was ultimately cleared in court of conspiring to deal £110,000 worth of amphetamines and ecstasy. McAvennie had pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, his second such offence.
McAvennie avoided jail but he was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs.
A separate incident saw McAvennie receive a four-month suspended jail sentence in 2009 after he admitted to headbutting a 23-year-old man outside a bar on the Isle of Man following an altercation.
The former forward, who had admitted to making mistakes during his career and expressed regret over his use of cocaine during his career, had his medals returned to him by Haughey in 2017.
Despite their recent run of form, Celtic are currently four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, although nearest rivals Rangers have a game in hand.
O’Neill’s side are next in action in the Europa League on Thursday when they face Turkish side Besiktas.
Celtic have lost all three of the league phase matches in the competition so far this season.
