AIDEN McGEADY admits he has unfinished business with Sunderland – and has signed a new one-year contract with the Black Cats because he wants to help return to the club to the Championship.

Despite a number of offers from elsewhere, McGeady has agreed to extend his stay at the Stadium of Light to the end of next season.

The 35-year-old returned to training at the Academy of Light yesterday after finalising the terms of his new deal, and is set to be a pivotal figure in Lee Johnson’s first-team plans next season.

McGeady’s Sunderland career looked to be over when he was frozen out of the senior picture under Phil Parkinson and forced to train with the club’s Under-23s squad.

He spent the latter stages of the 2019-20 season on loan at Charlton Athletic, but was immediately restored to the first-team fold on Wearside when Johnson was appointed as head coach last December.

He scored four goals and claimed a league-high 16 assists during his 31 League One appearances under Johnson last season, and also supplied the pass that led to Lyndon Gooch’s Wembley winner in the Papa John’s Trophy final.

“I’m pleased to have signed a new contract at the club and I’m looking forward to the new season,” said McGeady, who has made more than 130 senior appearances in a Sunderland shirt since moving to Wearside from Everton in 2017. “I’m happy at Sunderland and since returning to the team under Lee Johnson, I feel that my performances have shown that.

“We all know what the ambition is for next season and I’ve made no secret of the fact that I want to be part of the team that goes back up. My focus is to play and perform for Sunderland for as long as I can.”

McGeady is one of four senior players Sunderland were hoping to retain after their respective contracts expired at the start of this month. Charlie Wyke looks like heading elsewhere, having held talks with Celtic and a number of clubs in the Championship, but talks remains ongoing with full-back Denver Hume and versatile midfielder Luke O’Nien.

“We’re delighted to welcome Aiden back to the club,” added Johnson. “I have a strong relationship with him on a football level and I think he’s produced since we’ve come in.

“A player of his age has to produce and that’s why he’s here – to make other players better. I’ve not only been impressed by his output in terms of assists, but his buy-in to the philosophy and club identity.”