Aiden McGeady has been handed a lifeline.
The Republic of Ireland winger’s career has been sputtering in recent seasons but he has the chance to prove himself a valuable asset now that Preston North End have come in with a season-long loan offer.
McGeady was not given a squad number by Ronald Koeman when the Dutchman took over at Everton this summer, which made it clear that he was surplus to requirements at Goodison Park.
That message was effectively relayed in February, when he was allowed to join Sheffield Wednesday until the end of the season but even after dropping down to the Championship, McGeady flattered to deceive.
The 30-year-old made just 13 appearances for Wednesday and found himself in limbo until the very end of August.
BREAKING: #pnefc have signed Aiden McGeady on a season-long loan from @Everton. Details to follow. #DeadlineDay pic.twitter.com/ciN5hvCtKn
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) August 31, 2016
It was then that Preston swooped, and McGeady was so anxious to make the season-long move that he turned down the opportunity to feature in Robbie Keane’s final game for the Republic of Ireland, which coincided with the closure of the transfer window.
“I didn’t want the risk of it not happening by going to the game,” McGeady told PNE.com. “It is obviously Robbie Keane’s last game, but there is paperwork that has to get signed and I thought I might have to do a medical today, so I was anxious about what might happen, but the manager was fine with me, he understood the situation, so I stayed behind when the team left and got all the paperwork through and sorted it out myself – I could probably be my own agent!
“I didn’t want anything to get in the way of it. I wanted to get it all sorted as soon as and now it is done and I am really happy and I am just looking forward to when the international break finishes and getting down, meeting the lads and starting to get playing.”
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