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Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland keen to prove worth at Eastlands
Irishman wants to retain place in first team…
26 Jul 2010 10:09:00
By Danny Hart
Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland wants to prove his worth this season and retain his place in the first team at Eastlands.
The 23-year-old was named the club’s Player of the Year two seasons ago but failed to build on that form last year, scoring just two goals as he fell out of favour with manager Roberto Mancini.
The Irishman has reportedly had a bust-up with his manager on City’s pre-season tour of America following suggestions he could miss out on a place in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad ahead of the new season.
A number of Premier League sides have been linked with a move for Ireland but he insists he wants to stay at City to fight for his place in the team.
"I have read in the papers about supposed interest from Sunderland and Fulham and maybe even Aston Villa but I haven't heard anything directly," he said, according to The Guardian.
"Ideally, I would like to stay and build a future here. I am not going to rush in to anything, anyway. I think it's best if I see what happens during the first half of the season and perhaps give the situation until Christmas.
"If things aren't right at this stage then we can look at it again. I have worked hard during my years at City and I love the club.
"I decided in the summer that I was going to get my head down and do what I can to show the manager that I am worth a place on his team.
"It didn't go that well for me last season, when there were a lot of changes at the club, but it is only a season ago that I was Player of the Year at the club and my view is that I haven't become a bad player overnight. The manager hopefully doesn't think that either."
The 23-year-old was named the club’s Player of the Year two seasons ago but failed to build on that form last year, scoring just two goals as he fell out of favour with manager Roberto Mancini.
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The Irishman has reportedly had a bust-up with his manager on City’s pre-season tour of America following suggestions he could miss out on a place in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad ahead of the new season.
A number of Premier League sides have been linked with a move for Ireland but he insists he wants to stay at City to fight for his place in the team.
"I have read in the papers about supposed interest from Sunderland and Fulham and maybe even Aston Villa but I haven't heard anything directly," he said, according to The Guardian.
"Ideally, I would like to stay and build a future here. I am not going to rush in to anything, anyway. I think it's best if I see what happens during the first half of the season and perhaps give the situation until Christmas.
"If things aren't right at this stage then we can look at it again. I have worked hard during my years at City and I love the club.
"I decided in the summer that I was going to get my head down and do what I can to show the manager that I am worth a place on his team.
"It didn't go that well for me last season, when there were a lot of changes at the club, but it is only a season ago that I was Player of the Year at the club and my view is that I haven't become a bad player overnight. The manager hopefully doesn't think that either."
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