When Martin O'Neill names Ireland squad on Monday afternoon for this month's games against Wales and Iceland, Aiden McGeady is a certainty for inclusion.
This time, however, there can be no arguing with O'Neill's decision. O'Neill has often been accused of showing too much faith in McGeady during his tenure as Ireland manager. Even when frozen out at Everton, the winger was included.
Now on loan at Preston, McGeady is in fine in the Championship. Yesterday, he was named Championship Player of the Month for February.
Aiden McGeady had been awarded with the @SkyBetChamp Player of the Month award for February 👏. https://t.co/JM210JvjBz #pnefc pic.twitter.com/hSwZYVvot2
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) March 10, 2017
It was an award well-deserved for the 30-year-old.
In February, McGeady scored three superb goals for Preston and added two assists.
In a 4-2 win against Brentford, McGeady scored an equaliser, provided the assist to make it 2-1 and also scored the goal to make it 3-1.
Against Birmingham, in a 2-1 win, McGeady sent in a brilliant cross fro Callum Robinson to open the scoring.
He also grabbed the equaliser - another excellent strike from outside the box - in a 2-1 win versus QPR.
In an interview with the Preston North End website following the announcement of the award, McGeady put his good form down simply to playing games and enjoying football once again.
I'm enjoying my football again. Just playing games again really, I had sort of forgotten what I could play like because I hadn't really played that much.
It's a good environment to play my football in and I'm loving it.
Given that Robbie Brady is suspended for the game against Wales, McGeady is almost certain to start the crucial World Cup qualifier.
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
