Former Scotland striker Frank McAvennie has apologised for dismissing Auston Trusty’s extended absence after his father’s death as “woke nonsense”.
Trusty revealed last month that his father, Walt, had died, with the United States international posting an emotional tribute on Instagram.
The 28-year-old defender has since missed Celtic’s matches against Celta Vigo, Hibernian, Dundee United and Falkirk.
Before Sunday’s game against Falkirk, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill confirmed that Trusty had not yet returned, explaining that the player was “celebrating the life of his dad”.
Celtic then suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat against Falkirk. O’Neill’s team have won only one of the four matches played during Trusty’s absence.
McAvennie, who scored 37 goals in 85 appearances across two spells at Celtic, questioned how long Trusty had been away from the team following his bereavement.
Auston Trusty announced the death of his father, Walt, in an emotional Instagram post last month. (Source: Instagram/austontrusty3)
Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has apologised for calling Trusty’s absence “woke” on his podcast and saying 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”, adding that 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.”
Following the backlash, McAvennie apologised for his remarks. The 66-year-old acknowledged that he “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 since his father died last month
McAvennie was part of the Celtic team that won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup during the 1987-88 season. He scored both goals in Celtic’s 2-1 cup final victory over Dundee United.
The former striker also helped West Ham win promotion in 1991 during his second spell with the London club.
In 2000, after experiencing financial difficulties and appearing in court in a drugs trial, McAvennie sold the medals he had won to Celtic-supporting businessman Lord Willie Haughey.
He was later cleared of conspiring to supply £110,000 worth of amphetamines and ecstasy. McAvennie had pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, his second conviction for the offence.
McAvennie avoided a prison sentence but received a two-year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay costs.
In a separate incident, McAvennie was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence in 2009 after admitting that he headbutted a 23-year-old man outside a bar on the Isle of Man following an altercation.
The former forward, who has acknowledged making mistakes during his career and expressed regret over his cocaine use, had his medals returned by Haughey in 2017.
Despite their recent results, Celtic remain four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Closest rivals Rangers, however, have a game in hand.
O’Neill’s side return to action in the Europa League on Thursday, when they face Turkish club Besiktas.
Celtic have lost all three of their league-phase matches in the competition so far this season.
