SOCCER EUROPA LEAGUE Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa:STEPHEN IRELAND is determined to rebuild his career at Aston Villa after going from player of the year to spare part in barely 12 months at Manchester City.
The Corkman was City’s outstanding player in the 2008-09 campaign, and recognised as such by his team-mates – but a year later he found himself being ushered away by new manager Roberto Mancini and with little option but to move on.
He turns 24 on Sunday, and believes by leaving Eastlands as part of the deal which took James Milner to City he has taken his career in the right direction.
“I have plenty of personal ambitions,” Ireland told avfc.co.uk. “I want to get back to playing the way I can – I haven’t played 90 minutes in nearly eight or nine months, which isn’t normal really for me.
“I’ve kind of forgotten the feeling what it is like to come off after a game feeling tired, winning or losing. I’m not used to sitting out for so long.
Ireland could embarrass City if he rediscovers his best form at Villa, having looked an outstanding prospect as a midfielder with an eye for goal under Mancini’s predecessor Mark Hughes.
He has joined in a deal reportedly worth €9.7 million, and may make his debut against Newcastle on his birthday this weekend.
Ireland added: “My number one target is to work hard for my team-mates, show them what I can bring to the table, show them they can rely on me and that I am going to work hard for them week in, week out.
Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald is delighted to have Ireland on board.
Speaking in Vienna ahead of the first leg of Villa’s Europa League play-off clash with Rapid at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium this evening MacDonald said: “Stephen is a very talented young player who will complement the talented young players we already have. . . it’s a great boost for the club that Stephen is coming in.”
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