Aiden McGeady says he 'wants another chance' as his Sunderland first-team exile continues

McGeady was taken out of the first-team setup by manager Phil Parkinson in December of last year, with the Black Cats boss saying it was not due to any specific single incident, merely that it was the best thing for the team moving forward.

The winger subsequently went on loan to Charlton Athletic but is now back at the club.

Parkinson recently reiterated his stance, with the 34-year-old training with the U23s after his return. He is currently sidelined with a calf strain.

Sunderland are keen for McGeady to find a new club and that remains the most likely scenario.

Parkinson says he does not want to block the pathway for talented youngsters Dan Neil and Elliot Embleton.

"I’ve got another year on my contract,” McGeady told the Go Radio Football Show.

“Currently I am in the bomb squad, I think we have all been there before. I’m training at 2 o’clock every day.

“It’s a hard one for me because I have came back from being on loan and there is talk of the club being taken over and a lot of different things.

“I’m just kind of sitting here thinking I want another chance.

“I can’t say too much about it because I am still employed and contracted by the club but the truth always comes out in the end.

“Whatever people think happened between me and the manager... I think it should just remain a football decision.

“It’s a funny one because I have another year left on my deal and I want to play for Sunderland. I’ve made it as clear as that.”

McGeady also said that he believed former manager Jack Ross was sacked too early by the club.

Ross departed with the club sixth in the table after 11 games.

“He’s obviously very, very early into his managerial career but from what I saw of him, I really liked him, I liked what he brought,” McGeady said.

“Obviously it helps when you get on well, you’re always going to have that sentiment for a manager that you get on well with.

“I thought at Sunderland he did really well under difficult circumstances and was, in my opinion, shown the door almost as a bit of a scapegoat because I think we were sitting fourth in the league after 12 games which is not great but it was the kind of culture at the time where we had to be top of the league after five games.

“I mean, judge him at the end of the season. He’s gone to Hibs and obviously they’ve started the season well. I think the sky’s the limit.

“There’s little things that he may have learned from Sunderland that he can take into his new job and keep progressing and improving. I thought he was really good. He was especially good for me as well.”

Hibernian are currently second, six games into the Scottish Premiership season.