He has won Scottish league titles, FA and League Cups, played in the Champions League and the European Championships, even if he has only played at Wembley twice.
On the face of it, the Football League Trophy final should not be a highlight of Aiden McGeady’s career. Yet the Sunderland winger says winning on Sunday would be special.
“It’s obviously a big game,” the 32-year-old says of the game against Portsmouth. “It’s a sell-out crowd so it will be a big game.
“When you say the name Checkatrade it won’t be high on everyone’s list but it’s a final, it’s a chance to win a trophy and it’s possibly a turning moment in this club’s fortunes, a complete contrast to the last three, four years.
Sunderland manager Jack Ross knows from bitter experience you only enjoy Wembley when you win
“There’s that positivity, something to look forward to – winning a trophy. You can never turn your nose up at that.
“It’d be right up there because players can go through their whole career not winning anything. To be part of something, to be champions or to get promoted would be great, it would be special because it would be one of those times where you set out to do something and it actually does happen.
“If we do get promoted, which is obviously what we’re all trying to achieve, it will be great to be part of something. Everybody wants to be part of a winning team.”
Surprisingly given all he has achieved, McGeady has never played a competitive game at Wembley.
“I’ve played there before with Ireland and in a pre-season tournament but I’ve never played there in a final or anything like that,” he says. “It’ll be good and obviously it being a sell-out is fantastic.
Jack Ross says Sunderland expectations summed up when even 'the goat guy' is kidding with him
“It looks like being a bigger crowd this weekend than when I played there for Ireland and that says a lot. Everyone connected with Sunderland is wanting tickets for the game. It’s probably one of the biggest games the club’s had for quite a few years.
“It being at Wembley makes it that bit extra special, I think. It’s not just a Checkatrade game, it’s something else.
“When a final’s played at another ground it’s not quite the same. Just that name and the history that goes with it is something that everyone wants to do in their careers, play in a final at Wembley.”
