Gray days behind for ace Aiden
MARTIN O’NEILL believes Simon Grayson is the right man to get the most out of Aiden Mcgeady after his Sunderland move.
Grayson, who played under O’neill at club level, revived Mcgeady’s career when he moved to Preston on loan.
“First of all, 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’,” said O’neill. “I think we were the ones that said to Simon (left) that maybe you should have a look at him and take him. He didn’t think he could afford him but he came to some agreement between Preston and Everton where they could, and I think there almost an immediate response from Mcgeady because he needed to play.
“And Simon was impressed enough with him to take him to Sunderland. Aiden, he’s not getting any younger obviously, but he’s found something in him that is just has clicked.
“And I think Aiden then knows he owes Simon now. It’s up to Aiden and go, not just prove himself, but also prove Simon right.”
Mcgeady is 31 now and O’neill says you’ve got to take the good with the bad with him.
“He plays the game like a 16-year-old – and it’s not, it’s a professional game. You cannot be dribbling and doing a wee flick over just outside your own penalty area, which he did again against Derby on the Friday night.”