Macari: McGeady should make Premier League move

Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady will only prove his doubters wrong if he makes the move to the Premier League, according to Lou Macari.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is reportedly ready to make another bid for McGeady after failing to land him in January but former Republic of Ireland team-mate Lee Carsley expressed doubts about the wisdom of the move for both parties.

Midfielder Carsley said: “I think Aiden would find it a bit more difficult than he does in Scotland. I mean, defenders are just as fast as the forwards.”

Macari, who successfully made the transition from the Scottish top flight to England when he joined Manchester United from Celtic in 1973, said the only way McGeady can confound the critics would be to play in the Premier League.

Macari said: “Those doubts will never be answered until he goes there. I don’t think anyone believes he will go there and set the place alight but I’m surprised that no one has taken a chance on him yet.

“To be fair, lots of players who you think they will be a rip-roaring success when they go to the Premier League don’t do it and vice versa – some have crept in and raised a few eyebrows.

“The big test is by going there.”

The former Celtic and West Ham boss, though, believes there are bigger worries for the Scottish game than whether McGeady can cut it in the Premier League.

He said: “Any Scottish player worth his salt would want to play at the top level. There are plenty of Scots in the Championship but it is one thing making an impact in the Championship and lower leagues but you have to look at the top league and look at the Scots who are making an impact there.

“Whether Walter Smith stays as Rangers manager or Neil Lennon gets the Celtic job is irrelevant when we look at the lack of players coming out of Scotland.

“There are not enough good players and that is the big worry. There should be an inquiry into that.”