McLeish to stir 'dormant' Ireland

SOCCER:ASTON VILLA expect to complete the €10.7 million signing of Charles N'Zogbia from Wigan Athletic this week, while Villa's manager, Alex McLeish, will be urging senior players who have become "dormant" – such as Stephen Ireland and Stephen Warnock – to make their mark in the first team.

N’Zogbia, 25, will undergo a medical at the club’s Bodymoor Heath training ground on his return from a holiday in Dubai, with McLeish suggesting personal terms have been agreed with a player he came close to signing for Birmingham City a year ago. The France international’s arrival will go some way towards redressing the loss of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, though McLeish expects other experienced players to make a positive impact.

“With the signings of Shay (Given) and, hopefully, Charles, we will look for one or two players . . . in whom Villa have made a massive investment but who maybe have been dormant, to offer a bit more as well as seeing if some of the younger ones can step up to the mark,” said McLeish.

“We have a lot of young players in the squad who have potential, but can they make a big impact on a league as tough as the Premier League? That is where the experienced players come in. You need that strong spine through the team to allow the younger players, as well as Given and N’Zogbia, to make an impact.”

Warnock, who fell out of favour under Gerard Houllier and had expected to leave Villa Park, has impressed with his attitude in pre-season training, along with Ireland. McLeish has taken this as evidence both can be reintegrated smoothly into the set-up. Ireland, an €9 million signing from Manchester City, saw his first campaign at the club severely restricted by injury and ended last season on loan at Newcastle, but McLeish believes he can have an exciting future at the club.

“A couple of years ago Stephen looked an amazing player,” said the Villa manager. “He was making runs from midfield, getting in to the box, scoring goals, picking out the right passes. Every ball he touched turned to goals. Now, all of sudden, his game hasn’t gone the way you’d expect.

“But since I came to Aston Villa the player has excelled in training. He’s looked, really, as if he’s making those piercing runs in the practice matches, and I’m looking forward to Stephen Ireland being fully fit and competing for a whole season. As a manager, you have to try and get the best you can out of every individual. That’s what I’ll do. Stephen Warnock, too, has to resurrect his career.”

Ireland will miss the game against Blackburn Rovers today with a tight hamstring, but should be fit to feature on Sunday against either Kitchee or Chelsea at Hong Kong Stadium. N’Zogbia should meet his new team-mates next week when Villa arrive back from Hong Kong.

Guardian Service