Sunderland are set to compete in the Europa League this season.

Aiden McGeady has admitted that he sees “no reason” as to why Sunderland couldn’t go “very far” in the Europa League this season.

The newly promoted Black Cats shocked the Premier League by securing their place on the continent by beating Chelsea on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign, and will now test their mettle against some of the most illustrious sides in the European game over the coming months. But while McGeady has emphasised the need for his former club to balance their newfound continental ambitions with maintaining a solid footing in their domestic duties, the ex-Black Cat has also stated his belief that they have the potential to thrive on both fronts - provided they approach their recruitment strategy correctly.

Speaking exclusively to The Echo, courtesy of BetBrain, he said: “I think it's going to be really difficult, and that probably goes back to the question of are the club going to keep investing and buying more players? I think you do have to have a very big squad to be fighting on two fronts. It's really difficult because I think Sunderland are going to want to perform in Europe as well. They're going to want to actually do well in Europe, and not just get by, and if it's going to be Thursday nights and then you're playing again at the weekend, it takes its toll on a group of players. You have to have a full squad that you can rotate.

“So it remains to be seen if the club are going to invest more. I'm unsure if that's going to happen. I think there will be more players coming in but to have a squad where you've got probably two players for every position, where you think one can fill in and do just as good a job as the priority starting player.”

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He continued: “It [European qualification] is what the club wanted. It's amazing to be thinking, two seasons ago you're in the Championship, four seasons ago in League One, and now you're playing in Europe. European football at the Stadium of Light - it's an amazing story and I think it's just something that the club and the fans deserve because I've been through a lot of turmoil in the past few years. I was part of it as well. So I'm delighted that the club are back where they belong.

“There's no reason to say why Sunderland can't go very far in Europe. I think it's amazing because you're going to be inviting European teams to Stadium of Light, which hasn't been done before. An amazing occasion for the club, for the city, for the fans. And I think there's no reason why Sunderland can't go far, but then obviously you don't want to take your eye off the ball, which is the most important thing, the Premier League. That is the most important thing, to stay in the Premier League. So it's going to be difficult. It's something I think Le Bris is going to have to work out, how he's going to plan his squad and plan his games and his teams. But exciting times. Really exciting times.”

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