Stephen Ireland has vowed to put a nightmare 18 months behind him – and prove Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini and Aston Villa chief Gerard Houllier wrong.
The 24-year-old has gone from player of the year at City to outcast at Villa, forced to train with the youth team.
He admits the frustrations of being the forgotten man could have driven him “insane” but for his family and kids... but he is now determined to relaunch his career on Tyneside.
Ireland is in line to make his Toon debut against Everton the first step in showing Mancini and Gerard Houllier they were wrong not to give him a chance.
He was snubbed by Mancini when he took over City, despite being their best performer a couple of seasons ago, and only made 12 appearances for Villa before being loaned to Newcastle in January.
“The last 18 months have been really frustrating, especially when it’s not your fault and out of your hands," said Ireland.
“It would have been different had I played 40 games in a row or something like that, and didn’t perform, because then I would hold my hands up. But when I haven’t been given chances and game-time, then I’ve just sat around, basically doing nothing.
“After the past year and a half I’ve had, you feel like a fish out of water. It is difficult because you have to keep your confidence high. and remember what you are good at. When the chance comes you have to perform.”
Ireland feels hard done to by his departure from Eastlands, where he was a crowd favourite, and by his rejection at Villa.
“I played for four or five years at City, two years ago I had a very good season winning Player of the Year," he added.
“I wanted to come back into pre-season and kick on straight away, which is what happened initially. I played the first game and scored, and played well for five or six games under Mark Hughes.
“But then he left and things went in the opposite direction. I went to Villa and it hasn’t worked out. If I was going home to a house on my own I would go insane, but at least I’m going home to my family, the kids, which makes me smile.
“At Villa, there were times when I trained with the reserves and even the youth team, which wasn’t ideal and you just have to bite the bullet. When you don’t feel you are getting an opportunity it is difficult to take.”
Alan Pardew swooped for Ireland in January and he has spent the last five weeks recovering from injury, and is finally in the first team reckoning.
The impression I’ve got from the manager is really good," he said. “As a package – the fans, the city, the club, the players, the staff – it’s perfect here. It reminds me of what City was two or three years ago and for me, that’s good for my morale.
“I feel like I’ve been a victim of bad circumstances, but I will come through it!
“Now I have to try and get back to the level I was at a couple of years ago as quickly as I can, playing every week, scoring goals and creating them for others.”
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