Frank McAvennie, the former Scotland striker, has described Celtic defender Auston Trusty’s extended absence following the death of his father as “woke” nonsense.

Trusty, the United States centre-back, has not played for the club since announcing his bereavement a fortnight ago. He missed the Scottish champions’ games against Celta Vigo, Hibernian, Dundee United and Falkirk, only one of which they won.

In the build-up to the Falkirk match, manager Martin O’Neill said Trusty was heading back to the United States to “celebrate his dad’s life”.

McAvennie, who had two spells with Celtic, scoring 37 goals in 85 games, told his own Let Me Be Frank podcast: “I’ve got every respect for that, but how long do you want off? 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’s comments caused a backlash online and he later admitted he should have “chosen his words more carefully”.

He wrote on X: “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. 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.”

After winning eight and losing just one of their opening nine games of the season, Celtic have now lost six and won just three of their last 10 matches. They host Besiktas in the Europa League on Thursday having lost all three of their fixtures so far in the competition.