Aiden McGeady will block out some of his strongest friendships when he takes to the pitch for Spartak Moscow on Tuesday against his boyhood club Celtic, he said Monday.
The Champions League clash pits Glasgow-born McGeady against the team where he spent nine years before joining Spartak in 2010 for a reported fee of 10 million pounds.
“For 90 minutes tomorrow I won’t have friends on the pitch,” he said.
McGeady has previously hinted he will leave Spartak when his contract expires in 2014, and admitted he misses his family, who still live in Glasgow.
“Celtic’s still in my heart. I miss my family, but I’m a professional,” he said.
McGeady added that he remained “satisfied” in Moscow as a player.
Celtic coach Neil Lennon praised McGeady, who he coached and played alongside during their time together at Celtic.
“I definitely know that Aiden will be one of the players who’ll set the tone in this match. He’s in very good form at the moment, he moves well with and without the ball,” Lennon said.
“He’s become a better player at Spartak.”
Spartak and Celtic last met in Europe in 2007 when Celtic beat the Russian side on penalties after their qualifying tie ended 2-2 on aggregate, with McGeady featuring in both legs.
Celtic’s first group stage game this season was a goalless draw at home to Portugal’s Benfica, while Spartak’s lost 3-2 away to Barcelona after leading 2-1 with 20 minutes to go.
