Sunderland outcast Aiden McGeady hits back at Lewis Morgan accusations

The 34-year-old has found himself out in the cold at the Stadium of Light under Phil Parkinson and spent the second half of last season out on loan with Charlton Athletic.

McGeady’s reputation on Wearside also suffered a blow when Morgan, who spent a brief spell in the north east during Jack Ross’ time in the dugout, claimed that he was a “ruthless” character who often singled out his teammates for criticism.

Speaking to Si Ferry on the Open Goal podcast earlier this year, the Inter Miami winger said: "He [McGeady] is ruthless, I've never seen anyone that ruthless. He'd come in - and I think we'd drew with Burton or something - and he came into the changing room and said 'yous can't play in front of that? Burton Albion? Wednesday night? One each? Yous will never play any higher than this.'

"Nobody would say anything to him. He would single someone out and everyone was scared of him."

McGeady has subsequently recorded an episode for Ferry’s show, and wasted little time in sharing his side of the story.

“The thing is, right, your interviews are supposed to be funny and light-hearted,” the veteran wide man told the host.

"I get that Morgy was trying to tell funny stories, but see the time and the place [was wrong], because obviously the situation I’m in at Sunderland.

"The story he told, I was getting loads of grief because he said I walked in the dressing room and said ‘yous aren’t good enough, yous can’t play at a higher level’.

"I’ve got a journalist ringing me right after that interview went out and he was like ‘Lewis Morgan’s said these comments, what have you got to say?’. I was like, ‘look mate, this is what happened’. I walked in the dressing room, we’d just drawn 2-2 against Accrington Stanley. No disrespect, but Sunderland should be beating Accrington Stanley.

"We had a big meeting. Jack Ross gave us an open forum to have a say. Loads and loads of people spoke up and I said ‘lads, I’m 33 now, chances are I won’t play at a higher level again, but I imagine all of you have aspirations to play at a higher level – or you should have. If you can’t handle the fans getting on you out there against Accrington on a Tuesday night, you won’t [play at a higher level]’.

"You’ve got to be able to bottle that up, block that out, and deal with that pressure. That was what I said, but Morgy made it sound like I went ‘Ha ha, you lot won’t play at a higher level’. That’s not what I said.

"If Lee Cattermole or Kevin Ball had said that, it would be amazing. What was I saying that was wrong there? Why wouldn’t I have high standards at a club like Sunderland?

"If you’re accepting a 2-2 draw against Accrington Stanley, Sunderland will be in League One for the foreseeable.”

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