AIDEN McGeady has revealed he took a painkilling injection to play for the Republic of Ireland against Poland in March.
The Everton winger is looking forward to the upcoming internationals against England and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium.
“I’ve been fit for the last four or five weeks, been on the bench for most of Everton’s games, and came on against West Ham United,” McGeady said.
“I haven’t played a lot of football really since January, but although I don’t know what the manager is going to do for the Scotland game next week, hopefully I can play some part in it.”
Twenty nine year old McGeady wanted to feature for Ireland in the crunch clash with Poland. “I probably shouldn’t have played,” McGeady admitted.
“I played with an injection because my back was sore. I was a bit off the pace, but I just wanted to play.
“I came off after just over an hour. It probably set me back for a few weeks because I had another couple of problems with my back and my knee.
“They (Everton) weren’t all that happy with that, but you make a decision at the time. He (Martinez) is a professional guy, a good manager and a decent guy.
“He might have been angry, but I wouldn’t have thought he’d have held anything against you over it.”
McGeady now wants Ireland to inject their UEFA European Championship 2016 qualification hopes with a win over Scotland.
Regarding the reception he received at Celtic Park last November McGeady said: “It was worse for me because James McCarthy was injured as well, wasn’t it? Basically, I took the brunt of the abuse.
“Maybe it affected me, but I just think it was one of those nights when things didn’t quite go to plan. I was maybe trying to do too much with the ball.
“My Everton team-mate Stevie Naismith was saying stuff too; he likes to talk on the pitch. Hopefully we can win next week and give him a bit of stick when we go back pre-season. That would be good.
“It’s going to be a great game. There will be a lot of Scottish fans over as well and it will make for a good atmosphere. It will give us that extra – to use that cliché – 12th man and a bit of a lift.”
