Celtic defender Paul Caddis claims Aiden McGeady was a victim of his own “intelligence” when picking up his controversial second yellow card during the win over Hibernian at Easter Road.

The Republic of Ireland international, yellow-carded in the first half for a foul on former Celt Derek Riordan, was sent off just after the hour mark in yesterday’s match following a challenge from Hibs defender Paul Hanlon.

Although television pictures appeared to show that there had been no contact, Tony Mowbray vigorously defended his player.

The Celtic boss claimed it was the furore surrounding Arsenal star Eduardo, who has been charged by Uefa for his alleged dive to win a penalty against Celtic in their Champions League victory last Wednesday, which led to referee Dougie McDonald taking action.

Caddis, 21, who came on as a second-half substitute at Easter Road for Landry N’Guemo, insists he was in the perfect place to see that McGeady had suffered an injustice and agreed with Mowbray that Eduardo had a bearing in the decision.

“I think it was intelligence from Aiden,” Caddis said. “He went past three or four players and if he doesn’t go down then he is going to get smashed.

“To be honest I don’t think it would have happened if we hadn’t had the controversy with Eduardo. It’s all been blown out of proportion. Emmanuel Eboue also got booked against Manchester United.

“If it happened a couple of weeks ago nothing would have happened but you can’t blame Dougie McDonald. “I don’t know what he has seen and where he was positioned but it was right in front of me and I think it was a foul but these things happen.”

Caddis, who had a loan spell at Dundee United in the second half of last season, finds himself once again battling to establish himself at Parkhead and admits he will consider his future in January.

“I enjoyed my time on loan,” he said. “I’m back at Celtic and will see if I can get my way in to the team. At the moment it’s hard because I have a Germany international, Andreas

Hinkel, in front of me who is doing well.

“But the next six months is maybe make-or-break for me. I have only a year left on my contract. I’m 21 and I will be 22 when the season finishes and to be honest, at that age you have to be playing every week at a different level.

“I am going to stay until January at least and try to break my way in. If it doesn’t work then there is life after Celtic. Celtic were my boyhood heroes and I always wanted to play for them and I’ve done that but I would like to do it more.

“But if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.”