‘Would be good’: Aiden McGeady urges Celtic midfielder to join Sunderland

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Aiden McGeady has told Open Goal that Celtic midfielder James McCarthy should end his Parkhead nightmare and complete a move to another of his old clubs – in the form of Alex Neil’s Championship side Sunderland.

McCarthy, who turns 32 in November, managed just six starts for Celtic last season after joining the club on a free transfer. He played 22 times in all competitions, and this season is yet to manage a single minute for the Hoops.

The Hoops have since brought in Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguchi and Aaron Mooy since the arrival of McCarthy. It has pushed the ex-Everton and Wigan man further down the pecking order. He was no in the squad against Aberdeen.

At Ross County, he was an unused substitute. With three years remaining on his contract, the Hoops have handed him a long-term contract – one they will probably regret. McGeady thinks a move to Sunderland would suit McCarthy.

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“I met him the other day. Whether he was cool to sit at Celtic and not play. But he was like ‘no, I want to play’. Going into that Sunderland team he’d play every game. Sunderland just now have just such a young squad.

“They are going that Brentford model way of young players with asset value and don’t sign over the age of 24. For him, he’s got to be playing games. Sunderland are still the biggest club in the Championship,” McGeady said.

McGeady: Celtic midfielder McCarthy should move to Sunderland

Unfortunately for McCarthy, it has not worked at Celtic and it looks unlikely to do so. At this stage in his career, as McGeady says, he needs to leave the club in order to play regular football to extend his career as much as possible.

While he may struggle for minutes at Celtic, a move to Sunderland would surely see him play. As McGeady says, a young Sunderland team will need a bit of experience in the Championship. £14k-a-week McCarthy’s ideal move.