McGeady good enough for Premiership, says O’Neill

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill has dropped his biggest hint yet that he may make a move for Celtic and Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady in this summer’s transfer window.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder is widely tipped to come in as a replacement for James Milner, who is likely to leave Villa Park to join Manchester City once the English sides can agree a fee.

O’Neill previously managed the 24-year-old in the SPL, and the former Celtic manager believes the midfielder is good enough to make the transition to the Premier League.

“Aiden McGeady, I think, has got the ability to play in the Premiership, without question,” said O’Neill. “I had him as a kid at Celtic, I played him without worrying too much about his youth at the time.”

McGeady has cut an increasingly forlorn figure at Celtic Park since O’Neill’s departure, and many speculate that he would relish the chance to be managed by the Kilrea native once more.

O’Neill refused to speculate on the reasons behind the player’s apparent desire to leave the Scottish side, however.

“You would have to ask the player himself about what has happened,” said O’Neill. “But he’s definitely got the ability to play.”

McGeady is not the only Irish player that the Birmingham side have been linked to recently, with speculation also surrounding possible heaves for Robbie Keane and Stephen Ireland.

The Aston Villa boss also said that he is not surprised that Villa have been linked with such as Stephen Ireland and Robbie Keane, given the presence of Richard Dunne at the club.

“It’s very understandable, particularly with Richard Dunne now being at the football club, and Richard being very friendly with the lot of them,” he said.

He also joked that Dunne is constantly asking him to sign his fellow countrymen.

“Richard has demanded that we sign each and every one of them,” quipped O’Neill. “So we’re running out of money.”