McGeady has “fallen back in love with football”.

The Preston North End striker remains the top-scorer in the League of Ireland this season.

Republic of Ireland winger McGeady joins from Everton on a three-year deal.

Sunderland have announced the double signing of Aiden McGeady and James Vaughan.

League of Ireland fans might justifiably be relishing the sight of Daryl Horgan hitting the ground running at Preston but Martin O’Neill is probably even more gratified by the resurgent impact one of the older wingers in town is having at Deepdale.

Aiden McGeady began the latest chapter of his career by scoring on his Preston debut on Saturday but his fine strike from 25 yards wasn’t enough to earn his new employers anything in their Championship clash with Barnsley.

Republic of Ireland international McGeady, 29, has made just one appearance for Everton this term and is keen for regular first-team football ahead of Euro 2016.

It was a pretty uneventful weekend for the Irish on the pitch, but today could be a key day for a number of Boys in Green off it.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has admitted discussing a move for Aiden McGeady but fears that the wages of the Everton man would smash Celtic's salary structure.

It’s off, in ways we wouldn’t have expected under a manager of Martin O’Neill’s standing.

By Brendan O’Brien, Irish Examiner

“I always thought there was something wrong with Aiden’s eyesight,” smiles Tom Boyd, when told that Aiden McGeady reckons Ireland have a better first-choice XI than Scotland – a difference of opinion that will be put to the definitive test in their Euro 2016 qualifying clash in Dublin on Saturday.

When Ireland played Scotland in last November’s European Championship Qualifier at Celtic Park, much of the pre-match build-up was dominated by the potential presence of two Scottish-born players, James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady, in Martin O’Neill’s side.

After enduring the most hostile reception of his career in Scotland last November, and taking a painkilling injection to face Poland in March, Aiden McGeady feels he’s finally ready to deliver his A game for Ireland at the right time.

The Republic of Ireland have been handed a huge boost ahead of their crucial match against Poland on Sunday week after Roberto Martinez confirmed Aiden McGeady has returned to full fitness.

Aiden McGeady, John O’Shea and Jon Walters are all in the running for the ‘Three’ FAI Senior International Player Of The Year award.