Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill, speaking after Sunday's match, confirmed McClean had received death threats but said he backed the player to deal with the unsettling abuse, having had to cope with irate fans' reaction when he chose to represent the Republic of Ireland rather than his native Northern Ireland.
O'Neill said: "James will deal with it (the booing). I think it is to do with the issue last week, it's a free choice in this world.
"James has lived with a lot of things - he's getting death threats too now, so that doesn't help."
McClean, an Irish Catholic from Derry, turned down the chance to play for Northern Ireland in favour of the Republic last year, and was criticised by some for turning the poppy appeal into a political statement.
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