The Manchester City striker refused to link up with the national side for their friendly with Yugoslavia, after being called up as a late replacement.

Anelka has not played for France since April and was overlooked for the World Cup squad.

France's football federation subsequently asked Fifa to ban him from club football.

McKay, who has represented the 23-year-old in the past, defended the player, telling BBC Radio Five Live that "the situation with France and Nicolas is complex.

"Everybody knows Nicolas should have gone to the World Cup.

"He was let down by people on the selection committee.

"The players that I know in France are very sympathetic to Nicolas' problem and are very supportive.

"There were players at the World Cup who shouldn't have been there and Nicolas, with the talent he's got, should have been.

"He should have been asked [to play for France] from the start," McKay said.

This latest incident is the latest in a long line of controversies involving Anelka, stretching back to his troubled transfer from Arsenal to Real Madrid in 1999.

But McKay insists that journalists have created a false impression of Anelka's character for the footballing public.

"Nicolas has been targeted by the media as a sulk.

"Nobody knows the real situation. He's one of the nicest players I've met."

If Fifa enforces a two-match ban, Anelka will miss Saturday`s trip to Middlesbrough.

But McKay claimed it was "guaranteed" the Frenchman would be in action for his club.