Having made a loan move to Sheffield Wednesday on Monday, Everton winger Aiden McGready has spoken of his frustration at falling out of favour at Goodison Park.
The Republic of Ireland wideman joined Everton in January 2014 but never managed to hold down a regular starting berth, with injury hot helping his cause. This season, the 29-year-old found himself totally frozen out of the first team plans by Roberto Martinez, making just one appearance all season back in August in the Capital One Cup (where he was subbed off at half-time).
With an eye on EURO 2016 in the summer, McGeady heeded the advice of Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill and made the temporary move to the Owls, where he can get some playing time under his belt. Explaining the move, he said:
The national team manager (O’Neill) 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.
Wednesday currently find themselves in seventh spot in the Championship, one place off the play-off places. However McGeady feels that an automatic promotion place is a realistic target for the Owls. He said:
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.
A gifted, tricky winger, a revitalised McGeady should give Wednesday a boost for the latter stages of the campaign, while a permanent move away from Goodison looks likely in the summer.