McGeady points to direct style

Republic of Ireland and Celtic winger Aiden McGeady believes taking a more direct approach has helped develop his game.

The 21-year-old has played arguably the best football of his career in recent weeks, capping off a virtuoso display against Benfica with the only goal of the Champions League game at the start of the month.

He blasted home a 20-yard strike after cutting inside from the right wing in his next game, against Aberdeen last Saturday.

And McGeady set up Massimo Donati's injury-time winner against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday with a clever cutback from the byline.

The Ireland winger responded to manager Gordon Strachan's advice to be more positive and he feels it is paying off.

"The manager had a few words with me and told me he wants me to play more direct," McGeady said. "I've taken his points on board.

"Eventually I think I would like to play more inside the park.  I always played there until I got into the first team and then I become an out-and-out winger, which is funny because I never have been.

"I am happy to play there, obviously if you're playing for Celtic you have got to be happy.

"One of the things I have been working on is my crossing and it has definitely improved."

As well as Strachan's tactical advice, McGeady has benefited from sports science chief Gregory Dupont's fitness regime.

McGeady said: "He has helped me a fair bit, he has been here for six months and his training has been great.

"It's more to do with explosive power and pace over the first five yards.

"I feel now as if I can run away from defenders whereas in the past I maybe just tried to beat them with a trick or a body swerve.

"I feel now as if I can knock the ball past them and go.

"It adds another dimension to my game when I am coming up against European-quality defenders."