What the numbers say about Aiden McGeady - does prospective Hibs signing still have it?

The newly installed Hibs manager coached McGeady during his time in charge of Sunderland, where McGeady spent the past five years before his release this summer as the Black Cats ended four years in the League One wilderness with a play-off final victory over Wycombe Wanderers, a match where he was an unused substitute.

At most other points in McGeady’s career he’d have been looked upon as a massive coup for the Hibees. He burst onto the scene with Celtic in 2004, scoring on his debut at Tynecastle and immediately making himself a first-team regular. After six years and over 250 appearances in Glasgow’s East End he moved to Russia with Spartak Moscow before switching to Everton and ultimately arriving at Sunderland via a couple of loan moves.

However, at age 36 there is understandably a little concern as to whether McGeady still has any magic left in his boots. Can he wow the Hibs faithful next season or will he be another in a long line of former EPL players who come up to Scotland and struggle to adapt with their ageing legs?

Firstly, his already lengthy experience of Scottish football will stand him in good stead. It may have been 12 years since he last played here, but unlike some of his big-name predecessors he won’t take the league for granted.

Secondly, take away the name and the age and you’re left with the bare facts of what McGeady accomplished in England’s League One last term, a league where Scottish teams typically go shopping for new talents. And the advanced statistics paint a picture of a player who still has plenty to offer for at least another season.

The stats which indicate good attacking play are impressive. He averaged 0.24 goals per game, had an Expected Assists average of 0.34 and swung in 4.28