McClean joined Sunderland from Derry City in 2011 and established himself in the first team, but his second season became overshadowed by his decision not to wear a poppy on his shirt around Remembrance Day.

Speaking to talkSPORT, McClean recalled how O’Neill, who was Sunderland manager at the time, called him to a meeting with two police officers after a threat had been made against his life. McClean said: “We played Fulham on TV.

“I was called to reception by Martin and there were two police officers. It was extreme, but there was a threat on my life. At the time, nobody knew how to handle it, it was all new. I didn’t know how to handle it, it was the first time I had a threat on my life. You have to take it serious.

“They put someone outside my hotel room that night. Did I expect the backlash? No, because it’s my personal choice. What impact does my personal choice have on so many lives? It turned out it had a massive impact apparently on people’s lives and day-to-day business.”

McClean has previously explained that his decision was connected to his upbringing in Derry and his view of what the poppy represented.

He believes the statement released by Sunderland in response to his decision intensified the attention on him, claiming he was unaware it was going to be published.

He said: “The statement didn’t say at any point ‘we respect James’ decision’. It completely distances itself. I had just turned 23, so my belief was that Sunderland had a duty of care to look after me, and that they would look after me. Because I had no reason not to think that.

“I didn’t know they were putting that statement out. My belief to this day is that the statement made it a bigger story. Straight away it put all eyes on me.”

However, McClean remembers O’Neill’s personal support during the ordeal and credits the current Celtic boss with attempting to protect him.

He said: “Martin protected me. Martin has always been brilliant. It was all new to him as well.

“Looking back now would I have pushed back more on Martin and the club for me to say something? 100 per cent.

“But at the time, you’re 23 and you’ve just got off the back of a brilliant season and you think the club had your best interests at heart. They didn’t.”

McClean admits he still has not forgiven Sunderland for their handling of the episode, which he described as an extremely difficult period for both himself and his family.

He added: “I don’t forgive them [for the statement] because that year was hell. Just me and my wife, bringing a young baby into the world. But I will say one thing: it’s made me more resilient, so something good came from it.

“This is what I say when I say Sunderland hung me out to dry. I was 23. I was still naïve and young.

“I don’t know everything, even to this day. But for them not to protect me and put that statement out but then when I wanted to address the situation, which I eventually did at Wigan, they wouldn’t let me.

“They kept saying it would blow over. That made it 10 times worse.”