Ex-Sunderland forward reveals truth behind Aiden McGeady and Chris Maguire 'McDonald's-gate' incident

Manager Phil Parkinson questioned the professionalism of Maguire and McGeady back in December after the duo were pictured in club tracksuits eating at a McDonald’s, on the way home after the 1-0 defeat to Gillingham.

McGeady would eventually leave on loan to Charlton Athletic in the January transfer window, though the manager insisted that incident wasn’t the reason behind his departure, with Parkinson keen to improve the dressing room unity at the club. Maguire remains a key player under Parkinson.

McNulty has been speaking about the McDonald’s incident and his career in-depth on the What The Falk! podcast – and McNulty insists the story was blown out of proportion.

McNulty said. "Sometimes people like to add and subtract and divide and come up with a story, but honestly there isn’t one.

“The manager’s come in and for whatever reason hasn’t fancied Geads, whereas he has Chrissy. That happens sometimes.

“In truth, he probably didn’t fancy me too much either because he didn’t play me, but he would always have conversations with me saying he does.

“That McDonald’s picture was blown out of proportion. What difference did it make?

“It was on the way back from Gillingham and they’ll have been eating perfectly all week. Then, even for me, after the game Saturday is your binge day.

“What’s the big deal with that? Geads has played at the top level and knows his body. If he wants to have a McDonald’s after a game, he will know he can do that.

“The gaffer, the sports scientist, everyone was there when we stopped off and they said we were fine.

“If I remember correctly most of the boys bought a McDonald’s, it’s just Geads and Chrissy were the first to sit down and some fans took a picture. If they’d have waited ten minutes there’d have probably been 15 of the lads tucking into their Big Macs.

“It happens at every club. If it’s straight home, no stops, you might get a Domino’s on the coach. It’s not unusual. It’s crazy that it became such a big story; really baffling.”

When quizzed on the McDonald’s picture in December, Parkinson, speaking at the time, said: “I got sent the picture.

“Obviously it's not professional, is it? So it's not helpful, but that is not the sole reason why this decision has been made,” said Parkinson, referring to the decision that saw McGeady free to leave in January.

The winger joined Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the season.

All football has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic with the EFL determined to finish the season, when safe to do so, though there is no date yet for when that may be possible.

Sunderland are currently outside the play-off places.