Phil Parkinson has no place in his squad for Aiden McGeady next season and talks will be held with the Sunderland misfit once his loan spell at Charlton Athletic comes to an end, according to the Northern Echo.
If the experienced Ireland international had not got a little peckish on the trip back from Gillingham in December, would he still by tying full-backs in knots at League One level?
McGeady quickly fell out of favour under Parkinson after that ill-fated trip to a motorway McDonalds.
And, while the cynics suggested that the Black Cats boss was just using an excuse to get a high-earning player off the club’s books, the end result is still the same.
The former Celtic and Everton star is unlikely to ever play for Sunderland again.
But considering that he has a year left on his contract and a spell at Charlton will come to an end in a matter of weeks, Parkinson finds himself facing a difficult decision.
With the market in it’s current state, not many Championship or League One clubs would be willing to take on McGeady’s sizeable wages any time soon.
As a result, the Echo suggests that the highest-earning player in Sunderland’s squad faces spending the entirety of next season out on loan if a buyer cannot be found, with no place for him in Parkinson’s squad.
With Sunderland consigned to another season of third-tier football, however, it is impossible not to wonder how differently things could have turned out for both McGeady and the Wearside giants.
On his day, the 34-year-old is comfortably the most fearsome attacking weapon in the entire division and, if he and Parkinson could put their differences aside, Sunderland’s promotion prospects would be handed a huge boost.
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