Aiden McGeady's former teammate has dubbed him the "Championship Messi" as fans wait for news regarding his contract.
Former Manchester United man and Preston North End teammate Ben Pearson said that the Republic of Ireland international won North-End around 30 points for the club on his own.
McGeady is one of four players to have been offered a new deal at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland fans know just how influential the 35-year-old winger can be, and he showed no signs of slowing down last year, despite sitting out of the first part of the campaign.
He racked up 16 assists and took the gong for the most assists in League One at the end of the season.
Speaking to From the Finney podcast, Pearson said: “He probably won us 30 points on his own.
"He’s probably as close to Messi of the Championship as I’ve ever seen.
"When Geads came we started doing one-v-ones in training. I was quite competitive so I used to say to the lads ‘leave him, I’ll take Geads.’
"He’s the only player I’ve come up against that I couldn’t tackle him. I genuinely couldn’t tackle him.
"Honestly, I don’t know any other player who has done that. He’s the only player I’ve come up against and thought one-v-one, I’m in trouble here.”
