| McGeady scoops Young Player of the Month
By David O’Connor
Republic of Ireland international Aidan McGeady completed a sensational
comeback to the Celtic first team by scooping the SPL Bank of Scotland Young
Player of the month award for November.
Questions were being raised about the player’s future with the Hoops
after a poor start to the season. McGeady fought back though and has won
the confidence of his new boss Gordon Strachan.
His second start of the season came against Falkirk on November 6 and
McGeady’s goal sparked a run of six games on the trot.
He said: “It has been tough this season as I was out the team for 10
or 11 games but I’ve been back recently and this award is further confirmation
that my form is getting better.”
Celtic are developing skilled young strikers but they lack the physical
strength that is essential in the SPL.
McGeady said: “The manager has got me in the gym three times a week lifting
weights and doing upper body stuff. “Last season I would work back but I
wouldn’t really make tackles but it has been drummed into me by the manager
that it’s what I need to do to play for Celtic and it has added another
dimension to my game.”
McGeady has also been inspired by his skilled Japanese teammate Shinsuke
Nakamura.
He said: “Some of the stuff he does in training is ridiculous, but he
doesn’t just do tricks for the sake of it. The other day he did a step over
and Stephen McManus flew the other way about five yards and everybody was
laughing. He’s a fabulous player.”
After a period of discontent McGeady is now concentrating on his future
with Celtic and his international career with the Republic of Ireland.
He said: “There was never any point when I thought I wanted to move on
from Celtic but there were times when I wasn’t even getting on the bench
while last season I was playing every week. I thought maybe I would just
look at options come January though that is not to say I would move as I
wanted to stay and fight for my place.”
McGeady admits he is itching to play his first full game for Ireland
but is happy with his progress so far.
“I have had a few blips along the way, but hopefully I can keep my place.
I am more or less where I want to be for my age.”
Still only 19 McGeady is showing great promise for the future of Celtic
and Ireland.
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