Ex-EPL ace reveals role 'brilliant' Celtic boss Martin O'Neill had in 22-word statement that 'made life hell'

McClean, now 37, moved to the Stadium of Light in the summer of 2011 after starting his career with League of Ireland club Derry City. He was handed his debut by then-Sunderland manager O’Neill in a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers that December, and quickly endeared himself to the home support with a series of glittering displays on the left wing.

However, his time on Wearside turned sour the following season when he was criticised by a section for his decision not to wear a poppy on his jersey in a home game against Fulham in the the lead up to Remembrance Day. Ahead of the game against the Cottagers, the Black Cats released a short 22-word statement which read: “As a club, SAFC wholeheartedly supports the Remembrance commemorations. It was James’ personal choice not to wear a shirt on this occasion.”

He later stated he could not wear the poppy as he viewed it to be a symbol that commemorates all British military personnel, including those involved in the troubles in his hometown of Derry in Northern Ireland. Now, 14 years on, he has spoken about the aftermath of the statement, and how current Celtic boss O’Neill was the first to inform him of threats made to his life.

"We played Fulham on TV,” he told talkSPORT. “I was called to reception by Martin and there were two police officers. It was extreme, but there was a threat on my life. At the time, nobody knew how to handle it, it was all new. I didn't know how to handle it, it was the first time I had a threat on my life. You have to take it serious.

“They put someone outside my hotel room that night. Did I expect the backlash? No, because it's my personal choice. What impact does my personal choice have on so many lives? It turned out it had a massive impact apparently on people's lives and day-to-day business. The statement didn't say at any point 'we respect James' decision'. It completely distances itself. I had just turned 23, so my belief that Sunderland had a duty of care to look after me, and that they would look after me. Because I had no reason not to think that.

“I didn't know they were putting that statement out. My belief to this day is that the statement made it a bigger story. Straight away it put all eyes on me. We wore red and white, realistically, if that statement doesn't go out who is going to be looking? People wouldn’t have noticed. Why couldn't it have been an in-house thing?

"Martin [O’Neill] protected me. Martin has always been brilliant. It was all new to him as well. Looking back now would I have pushed back more on Martin and the club for me to say something? 100 per cent. But at the time, you're 23 and you've just got off the back of a brilliant season and you think the club had your best interests at heart. They didn't. I don't forgive them [for the statement] because that year was hell. Just me and my wife, bringing a young baby into the world. But I will say one thing, it's made me more resilient, so something good came from it.

"This is what I say when I say Sunderland hung me out to dry. I was 23. I was still naïve and young. I don't know everything, even to this day. But for them not to protect me and put that statement out but then when I wanted to address the situation, which I eventually did at Wigan, they wouldn't let me. They kept saying it would blow over. That made it 10 times worse.”

Get our daily football newsletter by clicking here.