McGeady aims a kick at former boss Parky
WE COULD HAVE HAD MORE POINTS IF I HAD PLAYED IN EVERY GAME, CLAIMS AIDEN
AIDEN McGeady has aimed a dig at former Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson, saying the Black Cats may have had more points on the board now if he had been playing since the start of the season.
Parkinson took over on Wearside in October 2019 and within a month had decided McGeady did not figure in his plans.
At the time the decision paid off as Sunderland’s form picked up dramatically, while McGeady spent the second half of the season on loan at Charlton Athletic as they unsuccessfully fought against relegation from the Championship.
This season McGeady was still out in the cold until Parkinson was sacked at the end of November.
However, when Lee Johnson took over at the beginning of December one of his first moves was to bring McGeady back into the side.
The effect on Sunderland’s fortunes has been as dramatic this term as it was when he was left out last season, the former Celtic and Republic of Ireland man contributing four goals and a dozen assists since his return.
Injury hampered McGeady two years ago when the club missed out on promotion under Jack Ross and the winger admits Sunderland let their chance slip through their fingers.
This time the Wearsiders are just outside the top two and on course for promotion again - but McGeady believes they might be faring even better had he played the full season. Asked whether he could be instrumental in the run-in, McGeady said: “I suppose that is a good compliment.
“What you say is maybe true but I don’t think it is all down to me.
“As a team that season (2018-19) it was in our hands and we threw it away.
“It was not just down to me being injured and not playing, definitely not. As a team we threw it away. “However, if I was playing at the start of this season would we have more points?
“Maybe, but that is something for someone else to answer.” McGeady was clearly referring to Parkinson and when asked whether the former manager did not recognise his quality he added: “He saw what ability I had.
“He knew but for whatever reason he chose not to play me but I don’t want to dwell on that.
“That is done, now we are looking forward.
“We are on a good run, everyone is in a good mood and everyone has the finish line in sight.
“I think promotion is within our grasp and games are starting to run down.
“To get that point on Monday at Peterborough means it is still in our hands and if we win all our games we go up and we win the league.
“It is easier said than done but that is the goal.”
McGeady turned 35 at the weekend and is out of contract at the end of the season.
However, Johnson was full of praise for him after his free-kick earned a point against Posh and the head coach said he could go on playing for at least two years.
McGeady smiled: “I hope he stands by that come the end of the season when I am out of contract!
“I turned 35 on Sunday but I still feel young and it is crazy to say I am 35 now.
“It feels like only yesterday I made my debut but in terms of my body and how I feel physically, I am still one of the sharpest over 10 yards at the club.
“I still feel fit, I still feel like I can contribute.”
On his contract situation he added: “I don’t think anyone is looking at that.
“Of course that is in the back of your mind but I think everyone wants to be a part of a team which goes up and be part of this team because the last two years there have been so many things happening at the club. “Two new owners, change of managers left, right and centre - we need a bit of stability.
“I think hopefully we have that now and it would be the icing on the cake if we are promoted.”
With new owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus now in place and with the team improving rapidly under Johnson, McGeady says he is keen to stay beyond the end of this season if possible. He said: “Of course I do. I never wanted to leave Sunderland last January, I wanted to stay.
“That is why I did not leave in the summer. “I am happy here and I want to be a part of the team which goes back up and then part of the team which maybe goes back up again that is the dream, for everyone here.”
He saw what ability I had. He knew but for whatever reason he chose not to play me Aiden McGeady