Aiden’s back to his best for Tbilisi return

THE greatest night in Aiden McGeady’s Ireland career came against Georgia three years ago in Martin O’Neill’s first competitive game in charge.

Having scored a clinical opener and then a sublime winner in stoppage time of the Euro 2016 qualifier, the hope was McGeady (left) would finally deliver consistently.

He hasn’t, and the brace in Tbilisi was the last time the 90-times capped winger found the net for Ireland. By the time the Euros came around a dire loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday had McGeady contemplating giving up the game.

Still, O’Neill brought the Glaswegian to France, where he had a hand in Robbie Brady’s winner against Italy.

On the back of a suggestion by O’Neill to Preston North End manager Simon Grayson last season, McGeady moved on loan to the Championship club, scored eight goals and made nine assists – and when Grayson was nabbed by relegated Sunderland, he made sure to bring the winger with him to the Stadium of Light.

‘A player like McGeady, someone has to believe in him after all this, despite all his protestations about “I could do it on my own”. Simon took the chance with him and there was almost an immediate response from McGeady because he needed to play,’ O’Neill explains.

‘And Simon was impressed enough to take him to Sunderland. Aiden’s not getting any younger but he’s found something in him that is just has clicked with him which is good. And I think Aiden then knows he owes Simon now and it’s up to Aiden to go, not just prove himself, but also prove Simon right.

‘Aiden plays the game like a 16-year-old and...it’s a professional game.

‘It’s not so much he has to learn, he’s smart enough, Aiden, he just doesn’t do it. You cannot be dribbling and doing a wee flick over just outside your own penalty area. Which he did again against Derby. Honestly, just outside the penalty area. And he lost it. I think it’s the risk you take with Aiden.’

McGeady returns to Tbilisi next month with a new lease of life.