Sunderland star Aiden McGeady has admitted he would love to finish his career at Celtic, but fears that his time to return to Parkhead may have passed him by.

The 32-year-old has been in sparkling form for the Black Cats since returning from injury this season and spent six years playing for Celtic before a £9.5m move to Spartak Moscow.

He was a three-time Scottish title winner, but spells with Everton and Sunderland after returning from Russia failed to bring silverware. He now finds himself in League One and admits a return to Glasgow would be the perfect finish to his career.

"I think the moment where I could have returned as Celtic player has passed," he was quoted by the Daily Record. "I would be happy to finish my career in a Celtic shirt, but I don’t think it will happen."

Although he has all-but given up on a playing return, the winger admits as his career draws to a close he's got on eye on possibilities elsewhere in the game.

"I have not seriously thought about coaching career, a couple of years ago I would have flatly rejected the idea of becoming a coach, but the older I get, the more I play and watch football, the more often I think about it."

He reveals that analysing his own game and that of others has brought the possibility of coaching closer to reality.

"My attention is drawn now to certain coaching decisions and I think that perhaps in some situations I would have acted differently."

McGeady scored a brace this weekend as Sunderland moved into the League One automatic promotion spots with a 2-0 win against Plymouth Argyle.

The Verdict

I'm not sure a return to Celtic has passed McGeady by, he's 32 but that is hardly old these days. With the sports science and nutrition around the game players are lasting longer.

He joined Celtic in his early teens from Queens Park and has gone on to have a wonderful career, finishing up in the green and white would bring it full circle and maybe add another trophy or two to his collection.

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