James McClean: 'Sunderland hung me out to dry over poppy snub'

Republic of Ireland international James McClean has claimed that he was "hung out to dry" by former club Sunderland over his refusal to wear a remembrance poppy on his shirt.

The midfielder chose not to wear the emblem during a Premier League game at Everton in November 2012, but says that the Black Cats did not let him explain why.

McClean told the Irish Independent: "[Sunderland] didn't understand. To them, I was disrespecting their country, disrespecting their fallen heroes, disrespecting their culture. I was getting booed every touch.

"When I asked to be allowed to speak about it, I was told that that was a bad idea, not to say anything and let it blow over. So it was kind of brushed under the table and I felt that that was more for the club's benefit than mine.

"When you think two years later I finally get to speak about it... for me, that's two years too late. I think I was hung out to dry by the press people at Sunderland."

The 25-year-old, now at Wigan Athletic, was born in Derry, where British soldiers shot dead 13 civilian protesters during 'Bloody Sunday' in 1972.