FORMER Sunderland boss Jack Ross has ruled out a reunion with out-of-favour Black Cats winger Aiden McGeady – but remains keen to take Marc McNulty to Hibernian before the transfer window closes.

McGeady has been frozen out of the first-team picture on Wearside and told he will have no involvement in Phil Parkinson’s plans for the remainder of the season.

Sunderland are looking to move him on ahead of Friday night’s transfer deadline, and rumours of a possible move to Hibs began to circulate when he was spotted among the Easter Road crowd at Tuesday’s Scottish Cup tie with Motherwell.

However, Ross insists nothing should be read into the 33-year-old’s presence in Edinburgh, insisting he has no plans to recruit him this month.

“I didn’t know he was here,” said Ross. “He never asked me for a ticket so he must have other contacts!

“We’ll try to prioritise other positions, but he’s a player who was very productive for me. It was nice of him to come along – nice of him to drop me a message as well!”

While Ross is not in the market for a winger, he is desperate to recruit a centre-forward in the next three days, hence his interest in McNulty.

The former Sunderland boss was the driving force behind the 27-year-old’s loan move from Reading to Wearside last summer, and is hoping to strike an agreement that will see McNulty cancel his current arrangement with the Black Cats in order to return to the SPL.

McNulty is expected to be part of the Sunderland squad for this evening’s League One game at Tranmere Rovers, but has made just one League One start since the middle of September.

“I obviously signed him (McNulty) this season already and he’s not playing regularly,” said Ross. “However, he’s another club’s player. I wouldn’t comment too much, but I think he’s a good player.”