Martin O’Neill says time for resurgent Aiden McGeady to stamp his class

The conventional picture of Irish wingers at the start of this season would have had Daryl Horgan on his way up passing Aiden McGeady on his way down.

But with the World Cup qualifier against Wales in Dublin just over a week away, Martin O’Neill can now enjoy the rewarding view of both men thriving at Preston, with the 30-year-old McGeady winning the most glowing reviews for a scintillating resurgence in form which saw him named the Championship Player of the Month for February.

While the Ireland manager doesn’t discount the possibility the arrival of the former Dundalk express at Deepdale put the skids under the Everton loanee — “I’m not sure Aiden would necessarily feel that but you might be right” — he’s more inclined to think, after so long out in the cold at Goodison Park, McGeady has found, under sympathetic management at Preston, fresh inspiration from within.