McGeady is stronger for his Preston loan says Roy Keane

The winger is likely to play a part in the ROI’s World Cup qualifier against Wales at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

Keane has tracked the club form of McGeady at Deepdale and thinks the 30-year-old is benefitting from a ‘good loan’ with PNE.

“I’m delighted for him,” said ex-Manchester United midfielder Keane.

“We make the point to all the players who haven’t been playing that it would be good to go and get some games.

“Aiden has done that at Preston, I have seen him there a couple of times, so have some of the other staff.

“He looks sharper, he has added some goals to his game.

“It has worked out really well for Preston and Aiden.

“It has been one of those good loan deals, it’s been a big help for us – a sharper Aiden McGeady is very welcome in this squad.

“If Aiden gets an opportunity on Friday, whether that be starting or off the bench, the fact he has played regularly for the last month or two will only be of benefit to us.”

McGeady, holder of 86 caps for the Irish, has been joined in the squad by North End team-mates Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan.

They could feature in next week’s friendly in Dublin with Iceland, although a number of injuries to regulars could yet see them on the bench against Wales.

The PNE trio signed-off from club duty for a fortnight by featuring in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Blackburn.

McGeady scored the 93rd minute equaliser, that the fifth goal of his season-long loan from Everton.

That draw helped Preston stay in the play-off chasing pack.

Said McGeady: “We are not too far away from the play-offs, we will keep playing and hope results go our way.

“The play-offs are the goal but we have had a good season regardless of where we finish.”

McGeady insists there is less pressure on North End to finish in the top six compared to other clubs around them in the division.

The former Celtic and Spartak Moscow man said: “There is not any pressure on us, the only pressure was to get out of the bottom three when I first arrived – we were down there.

“We have been playing well, beating big teams in the league who were expected to be right up there at the top.

“We have quietly gone about our business and have slowly crept up the league, we are not far away now.

“The pressure is on the teams who have spent a lot of money like Sheffield Wednesday for example.

“They have spent an awful lot of money.”

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