One of the few Preston players to impress during a 3-1 defeat that O'Neill described as "wretched" was Aiden McGeady; an impression consistent with his last few months at Deepdale. McGeady has been the league's outstanding player of late, and won the Championship Player of the Month for February following a run of three goals and seven assists in the space of the year's shortest month.
Seddon gives an insight into McGeady's upturn in form:
"He's showing that form he showed at Celtic. He's loving his football. Simon Grayson has a track record of getting players for whom it hasn't worked out elsewhere, putting his arm around them and saying 'we know you're still decent, so go out there and show us what you can do'. He has given him the reign to go and be a box of tricks up front, telling him to 'do a stepover, show us what you can do'. Since the end of December he has overcome a couple of injuries and he has really kicked on, and these last three months he has been mesmerizing. Premier League quality in the Championship."
Key to the McGeady Renaissance is the freedom afforded to him by Simon Grayson, pragmatism rewarding both player and manager:
"Simon Grayson, the way he plays, his back four are very disciplined, as are the midfield two. But anyone up front or playing the wings are let off the cuff.
They'll swap wings, and there have been times during games that, if, McGeady is playing on the wing, and if the opposition full-backs are pushing on and need to be tracked, he will move McGeady infield to a number 10 position and move Callum Robinson to the left. That relieves McGeady of his defensive duties, and Preton have had quite a lot of joy doing it.
He's almost given McGeady a blank canvas."
