Little Bhoy McGeady finds new maturity
Four years ago, the Celtic winger was cornered for a quick chat by a group of journalists while on Under-21 duty in Dublin and the resultant five minutes were as agonising for those posing the questions as the teenager mumbling the answers.
With his monosyllabic replies and almost impenetrable Glasgow accent, McGeady divulged next to nothing but the maturity since then was obvious when he took a seat at a boardroom table this week.
Eye contact is made when he delivers a friendly hello. There is a hint of a smile, even if it is plain to see that this still isn’t his natural environment.
Answers are, thankfully, longer these days but far from elaborate so, when he trundles out a 110-word reply about his form to date with Ireland, the tendency is to sit up and take notice.
“It was my first time to be playing competitive international football on a regular basis,” said the 22-year old of the last qualifying campaign under Steve Staunton. “Before that I wasn’t even in the squad for the competitive games.
“It’s been a great experience. I’ve put in some mixed performances. I played well in some games, like the Welsh game, and not so well in others. It was disappointing to play like I did against the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
“I don’t think I did myself justice in those two games. What made it more disappointing was the fact that those two games decided the group. It’s been a learning experience and I’ve got to take that into the next campaign.”
Clearly, he has some way to go before cementing a role as a starter for his country.
He did impress with his display at the Millennium Stadium but it is instructive to consider the fact his other big display in the green shirt this past 18 months was the 4-0 friendly win in Denmark.
With Damien Duff back in harness after injury and Stephen Hunt’s exuberance offering another option down the touchlines, McGeady’s margin for error is now even less than it was.
“There is a lot of competition for places. Unless there are injuries, somebody is going to lose their place. Apart from Duffer, no-one is assured of their place. He is probably the one individual who will come straight back in.”
With the FAI’s hunt for Staunton’s successor dragging on, McGeady and his team-mates prepare for the Brazil match tonight with no real “gaffer” to impress and players like Richard Dunne and Kevin Kilbane have made their feelings known about that.
McGeady prefers to squat firmly on top of the fence. Questions on possible appointments and the length of the process are batted away.
“It’s been fine. We had Don over for the game against Wales as well. We’re used to him. Most of the players have played for him coming up through the U21s. Obviously it is different with no full-time manager to impress. The fact it has gone on so long shows that they are taking their time to get it right.”
The arrival of Brazil to Dublin this week is enough to excite him for now and, though Maradona was his boyhood idol, it was Ronaldinho with whom Martin O’Neill compared him after his superb scoring Celtic debut against Hearts back in May of 2004.
His Irish debut followed two months later against Jamaica but it is at club level where his star has continued to rise. He may still wear the number 46 jersey but he has become an integral member of the Bhoys’ first XI.
Relegated to the bench for much of Gordon Strachan’s first season in charge, he played 46 times for the club last year and another 31 appearances have followed already this term. His seven goals is already a career high.
The club’s young player of the year three seasons in a row, he was nominated for the SFA’s award in that category in 2007 and his education at the highest level will continue later this month with the Champions League last 16 clash against Barcelona.
“Things have been going well. I’ve got a bit of consistency in my game since last season. It’s disappointing we’re a few points behind Rangers at the moment but I’m sure Rangers will drop points before season ends.”
