The desperate need for Aiden McGeady to get out of Everton and play first team football in advance of Euro 2016 was well known by everyone associated with Irish football, but the man himself has now looked back on his time at Goodison Park and revealed when he finally accepted that he had to search for a new opportunity.
The Glasgow-born winger has claimed that his situation of training with the knowledge that he wouldn't be playing come match-day resulted in him forgetting what it was like to be a footballer, a claim that will no doubt produce a giggle from those who love to bash McGeady, but in reality he is a big reason that we had enough points to secure a playoff place and was always going to be in Martin O'Neill's plans for the tournament.
McGeady knew from a discussion with the Ireland boss that something needed to change, and it was around playoff time that it became imperative that action was taken:
The national team manager told me that I had to get out and play, you're wasting your time if you're not playing. It wasn't enjoyable at all.
I forgot what it was like to be a footballer. I was training Monday to Friday and then having weekends off.
Once it got to October/November, I knew I had to get out.
And get out he did.
McGeady has made his debut for Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday and is already in a more positive frame of mind as he looks to get a run of games before the Euros:
There's 18 games left this season and a lot of points to be played for. There is not that big a gap between us and the top two. The ideal scenario for me is to come here and play and help the club to get towards that.
The owners are ambitious and it is something I want to be a part of.
Good to hear. Hopefully he hits the ground running and we have a few highlights to bring you before the end of the season.
via BBC Sport.
