Sunderland’s Aiden McGeady waives automatic contract extension and can now start play-off semi-final

Sunderland star player Aiden McGeady has agreed to waive an automatic contract extension, freeing him to start in their League One play-off against Lincoln on Saturday.

The 35-year-old would have triggered another 12 months had he started 30 matches this season.

McGeady made his 29th start during Wednesday’s 2-0 first-leg defeat at Lincoln, and there was talk of him being unavailable for the return fixture.

Sunderland’s Aiden McGeady (centre) has waived an automatic contract extension at the club

He would have triggered a 12-month extension had he started 30 matches; he has started 29

But boss Lee Johnson said: ‘It’s all good with Aiden. It’s difficult for me to reveal contract situations, that’s not my place or fair on the player.

‘All I can say is Aiden has been top drawer throughout my tenure and has proved his class. It shows he is a top human and a top player that he is available.’

Lincoln boss Michael Appleton certainly was not buying the prospect of the former Republic of Ireland winger missing out.

McGeady waived that clause and is available for Sunderland’s play-off semi-final second leg

Black Cats boss Lee Johnson (left) praised the ‘class’ of the winger in making himself available

‘There’s more chance of me playing for us than there is on McGeady not playing for them,’ he said.

‘One hundred per cent (he’ll play), because he’s their best player and they’ve got a lot of money.’

Lincoln forwards Tom Hopper and Brennan Johnson scored second-half goals to give Appleton’s side a two-goal lead going into Saturday’s match.