Sunderland legend Micky Gray has heaped praise on his former side for being able to keep hold of winger Aiden McGeady during the summer transfer window, in an exclusive interview with Football League World.

The Irishman has been an ever-present in the Black Cats' side over the past two seasons and the former left-back believes that keeping hold of him this season could prove a difference-maker in the promotion race.

"He is probably too good for League One if I'm being brutally honest with you," Gray exclusively told Football League World.

"I am sure there was a lot of interest in someone like Aiden.

"He's got fantastic ability, he's a game changer and they are hard to come by, certainly when you're playing in League One, so it was really important to keep him there."

Now 33, McGeady is into his third season with the club, making 84 appearances in that time, scoring 23 goals and assisting 13 more in the Championship and League One.

He was an ever-present in their run to the play-off final last season, bagging 11 goals and five assists along the way, although it was a campaign that ended in bitter disappointment under the Wembley arch.

And with less than a year remaining on his contract in the North East, it could well be the final chance that fans get to see the tricky attacker turn-out in the red and white.

With six matches played, Sunderland sit in eighth place but with a game in hand over five of the teams sitting above them in the third-tier, with a trip to Accrington Stanley in the offing following an international break.