McGeady was out with Scott McDonald when they were caught up in an incid ent outside the Bamboo nightclub in Glasgow city centre.

And the 22-year-old Irishman claims he was the victim and is understood to have told the club about the fracas first thing on Monday morning.

"He's more than happy to cooperate with the police as he and Scott McDonald were very much the victims of this unfortunate episode," said a Celtic insider.

But student Chris Stevenson claims he was headbutted in the face by the Celtic star.

Stevenson, 22, said: "Out of nowhere he just pulled his head back and nutted my face. I'd done absolutely nothing to provoke him. I can't get my head round how a professional footballer can behave like that."

The student admitted McGeady was subjected to a "bit of banter" from what a friend of the player described as "a bunch of neds."

"They came straight across the road, right in their faces, clapping their hands right in front of them," continued the friend, which prompted the scuffle and alleged headbutt.