Martinez: McGeady is just the type of winger Premier League needs
Martinez reckons 27-year-old will make huge impact on league before season ends
Greg O'Keeffe
Football - FA Premier League - West Bromwich Albion FC v Everton FC Everton's Aiden McGeady in action against West Bromwich Albion during the Premiership match at the Hawthorns. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Roberto Martinez insists January recruit Aiden McGeady is the type of winger the Premier League is "crying out for".
Republic of Ireland international McGeady is yet to score for the Blues since arriving from Spartak Moscow in the last transfer window, and has so far started just one top flight fixture.
But Martinez reckons the 27-year-old, who he coveted long before January, is poised to make a huge impact on the league before the current campaign ends.
He said: "This league is crying out for intelligent wingers like him. He is an out and out winger who can control his space, take people on and find space. He's exciting in one versus one situations with a very unpredictable quality.
"That's the type of player you need in this league to exploit spaces in the wide areas and in transition periods."
Before joining the Toffees McGeady had not played senior club football since November, after being frozen out by Spartak for declining to sing a contract extension.
Aiden McGeady welcomed by Everton fans at Goodison Park
And it is that prolonged period of inactivity which Martinez admits has taken the former Celtic man time to get over.
It had been suggested that Everton would wait until the summer to sign McGeady, but the Blues boss does not regret pushing through a January move.
"I actually think we've been fortunate to have him before the end of the season," he said. "It took a little while to get his fitness levels and physicality ready but now he's ready and I think we'll see the best of him over the next eight weeks.
"It's a real bonus, getting him in January allowed us to get him adapted to the club and to a new league he has never played in before.
"That will be important to the future. I'm excited about what he can bring in the next few games.
"It's been a tough year for him in terms of enjoying his football with what happened at his previous club.
"But he's one of the most talented wingers in the league and he's ready to enjoy it.
"I felt his composure on the ball against West Ham allowed him to be himself and his fitness is there. He's ready now and I know the fans will give him a real supportive role which is what he needs."
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