McGeady ‘is still not at peak performance’

AIDEN McGeady has ridden to Sunderland’s rescue in the last two games but boss Simon Grayson insists the Republic of Ireland man has not yet hit top form.

McGeady has scored in each of his last three outings, including netting crucial equalisers to force draws at Preston and at home to QPR, and is the Black Cats’ top scorer with four goals.

But Grayson believes there is still plenty more to come from his bargain £250,000 summer signing from Everton (right), having seen what he is capable of when he took the 31-year-old on loan at Preston last season.

“The quality of his goals has been exceptional, as everyone has seen,” said Grayson. “But I’d like a little bit more – I still think there is more to come from him in general play. “His decision-making is not at the level I would expect, or that he would expect, at this moment in time. An example was last weekend when he had the chance to cross the ball inside the first five minutes but he decided to go back and try to beat the player again. “Aiden knows what his qualities are. Has he fully reached those levels yet? Like a lot of the players, probably not.” While McGeady has added some creativity to the side from wide positions, the return to action of Duncan Watmore after a lengthy injury absence has injected some much-needed pace in the final third.

Watmore was missing for 10 months after suffering a ruptured cruciate ligament last December but made his comeback as a sub at Preston, and then made his first start in the game against QPR.

And Watmore’s energy and enthusiasm has had a positive effect on the team, and also given the fans a lift.

Grayson said: “He’s come through [the QPR game] fine.

“It was great to have him back, psychologically and from a football perspective as well. He gives everybody a lift through his enthusiasm and also the quality he’s got.”