JACK ROSS is hoping Aiden McGeady’s international quality will prove crucial as Sunderland’s League One promotion push approaches its climax.

McGeady’s 67th-minute finish shattered some stout AFC Wimbledon resistance, and lifted Sunderland back to within three points of the automatic promotion places.

If the Black Cats win their games in hand, they will move level on points with league leaders Luton Town, and while plenty of attention has been focused on the four new signings who arrived at the Stadium of Light last month, Ross feels McGeady’s attacking prowess could be key to his side’s hopes.

The Sunderland boss said: “I thought he was really bright. He’s proven the quality he has. I thought in the first half we were too short and too narrow, but I thought in the second half we got wider a bit more, and that’s where the goal comes from.

“It’s alright having width though, you need that special bit of quality when it gets there, and Aiden has done that a lot for us this season.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with him. Players are all different, but he cares. He cares about his football and his standards. He’s not just a talented player – you don’t have the career he’s had in the game without the drive and determination to win games and get the better of your opponent.

“Players can show that in different ways. He doesn’t speak publicly that much, but he has that in him. You don’t play for your country and play in the Champions League without that.”

Sunderland were not at their best this afternoon, with McGeady’s goal their only effort on target before the same player brought a low save out of Aaron Ramsdale with two minutes left.

Having drawn their last two league games at the Stadium of Light, though, it was simply important that the Black Cats returned to winning ways, with Ross admitting the result was more important than an eye-catching display.

He said: “We didn’t play brilliantly, and it was a tough game, but we won it, and it’s very much about that at this stage of the season. Where we are, and with the games we have to catch up on, there could be a few of them like this in the next few months.

“Any time you achieve success as a club, and win a title or win promotion, it’s winning games like this that is important. We could have played a lot better, but we kept going, and ultimately we scored a good goal to win the game.”

AFC Wimbledon remain rooted to the foot of the table, but while his players were unable to replicate the performance that enabled them to knock West Ham United out of the FA Cup last weekend, visiting manager Wally Downes was happy with his side’s efforts.

Downes said: “The result didn't go for us, but I think the boys performed very well. It's a tough place to come, and after the week they've had after the result at West Ham, I think the eyes were on them a little bit. They answered a few questions.

“I think we played well. They probably had more possession in the first half, but we came in in a great position to win a game.

“It was a good opportunity when (Scott) Wagstaff went through. He showed great balance to get through between two players. All of a sudden he becomes unbalanced. The referee said he didn't see a trip but what he didn't see was a pull on his arm.

“They're not going to be coming to stadiums like this against a team of this quality every week. If they take the performance forward, we won't be playing Sunderland every week.

“Other teams down there have been on runs recently and I can't see any reason why we can't win three games on the trot.”