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Republic of Ireland's Aiden McGeady can be consistent, says Seamus Coleman

Ireland's Aiden McGeady (right) celebrates scoring opening goal with Robbie Keane and Seamus Coleman during the UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying, Group D match at
Image: Aiden McGeady (r): Celebrates his winning goal against Georgia

Seamus Coleman is sure Everton team-mate Aiden McGeady can become a regular match-winner for the Republic of Ireland.

McGeady scored both goals for Martin O'Neill's men in their 2-1 win over Georgia on Sunday, the spectacular winner coming in the final minute of normal time in Tbilisi.

Coleman had predicted McGeady, who joined Everton in January after a spell in Russia, could make the difference and he was delighted to see his confidence in the winger repaid.

"He [McGeady] was brilliant, fantastic. I said to him before the game, 'You can win us this match' because he's got that ability to beat players and his confidence is up at the minute, and I'm delighted to see it.

"To be fair, I thought a lot of people would have snatched at it - James [McCarthy] actually played him in rather than shoot, which was great composure in his behalf. It was a good Everton goal.

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Aiden McGeady scores the winner for the Republic of Ireland in their 2-1 win in Georgia with some intricate skill

"We were delighted - he won us the game. Moments of magic win games and Aiden definitely did that.

"We all know that's what he is capable of week-in, week-out and as long as he believes it, he can be a top, top player."

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Coleman is convinced McGeady will prove to be a real asset for Everton as well and extend his fine start deep into the Premier League campaign.

He added: "It's difficult because he was playing in Russia and maybe not a lot of people follow the Russian league. He might have been doing brilliantly out there and you just don't notice it.

"But since he has come to us, the manager believes in him a lot. He has started the season very well and he showed tonight that he's on top form.

"It's brilliant for him. His confidence is up - the move to Everton could have done him the world of good. We saw the best of Aiden McGeady."

Stephen Ward Jaba Kankava
Image: Stephen Ward: In action for Ireland in Tbilisi

Burnley left-back Stephen Ward was equally impressed, saying: "We see him every day and we know how good a player he is.

"He has done fantastically well for our country and tonight showed just how big a player he is because he was outstanding. He scored two and came bitterly close to getting a third as well.

"To score that late is important and gives us a good start, but throughout the game, I thought we fully deserved it.

"When they got their goal, it was a bit of a setback, but I didn't think we panicked at all. We kept playing our football, we kept the ball really well and thankfully Aiden came up with a piece of absolute brilliance and won us the game.

"Something like that, we see every day in training and when you have got a player like that in your team, you have got every chance all the time."

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