Aiden McGeady wants to prove his fitness yet again at the start of this season and insists that he is capable of playing twice in a week.

Time will tell if Lee Johnson opts for the Irishman in Sunderland's League Cup trip to Wigan Athletic on Tuesday evening, as the winger reiterated his desire to play despite the busy schedule when he spoke to the Northern Echo.

He said: "I would play every game if I could. I don’t see why not. Football is a short career, and you have to try and play as many games as you can.

"I think I can because I went from January to the end of the season last season playing two games a week and I’m 35. I feel I can, but it’s not my decision, it’s the manager’s."

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Six goals and 17 assists last term demonstrate that McGeady is still as crucial as ever at the Stadium of Light, the 35-year-old has taken the armband in five of his seven league appearances this season chipping in with two goals and one assist.

It will be evident of how seriously Johnson is taking the League Cup whether he starts McGeady or not, Leam Richardson in the other dugout may be using Tuesday evening's match as a chance to size up the Black Cats with the two clubs looking like automatic promotion rivals this season.

The Verdict

Sunderland have the difficult task of hosting Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, a match that should certainly take priority over this one.

Runs in the EFL Trophy have hamstrung the club's promotion pushes in recent years and Johnson will be aware of that. This has been the Black Cats' best start to a season since relegation to League One and a loss on Tuesday evening could even be seen as a positive.

McGeady should be rested and wrapped up in cotton wool to ensure he continues bringing the goods in the league, Sunderland are in their fourth season in League One now so they have to prioritise getting out of it this time around.