The last 18 months have been difficult for Stephen Ireland, the Irish midfielder who joined Newcastle on loan until the end of the season on Monday. Having been happily settled at Manchester City since the age of 14, the whole landscape of the club changed when it was bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group.Mark Hughes, the manager who had helped Ireland play the best football of his short career, was replaced by Roberto Mancini and less than a year later, having fallen out of favour despite being the reigning player of the year, he joined Aston Villa last summer.His Villa career got off to a bad start - a 6-0 defeat at St. James' Park on his debut - and when Gerard Houllier took over from Kevin Macdonald in September, Ireland found himself regularly used as a substitute or withdrawn early from the action. He has started only six league games, made four appearances from the bench and completed 90 minutes only twice for the Midlands side.But 24-year-old Ireland - who is at least a fortnight away from making his United debut because of a knee injury - is relishing the chance to "kickstart" his career at St. James' Park, as he revealed in this honest and frank interview.Your loan move until the end of the season was completed on the final day of the transfer window. What are your thoughts on joining Newcastle?It's a massive relief to be here. For the last 18 months, I haven't felt part of anything. The team spirit, the team itself; I haven't felt like I've belonged to it. I felt a bit like an outcast at times, which was difficult of course for me personally.It affected my confidence and my fitness. The last time I played 90 minutes must have been months ago, and before that it must have been months again. I haven't had a consistent run so it's been very difficult.So I came here unsure of what to expect - but within the first 15 or 20 minutes, I knew that I had come to a good club with good morale, a good bunch of lads who are really close and tight together. And already, I feel part of it.I'm going to the Arsenal game and that's going to progress it further. For me, being part of the squad and being part of what they achieve, will feel good and that's given me confidence instantly.It must have been tough because you were Manchester City's player of the year the season before last, and then everything changed with the ownership and manager. Then you went to Aston Villa where there was also a new manager almost as soon as you signed...Yeah, I went from being the player of the year to the new manager getting appointed and me not being part of things, basically. That's what it boiled down to.Then I went to Aston Villa because I wanted to kickstart my career again and it kind of backfired again for me. It wasn't great. A new manager came in and the same thing happened. I just seemed to be out of favour without actually doing anything wrong on either occasion, so that was difficult.But I'm thankful I've got the opportunity to come here and kickstart again from here, and I'm ready to do that.The last time you were at St. James' was probably a day you'd rather forget. It was your Villa debut and you were on the wrong end of a 6-0 defeat. Are you hoping to create some better memories of the stadium?I've always liked coming here. Two years before, I scored here (for Manchester City) and it was the equaliser in a 2-2 draw, and I was always a fan of the ground; the stadium, the structure of the whole club and the fanbase. I was a massive fan of all that so for me to come here was a big positive. I'm happy to be here and hopefully there'll be no negatives and we can continue on a good run and finish off the season strongly.Gerard Houllier has said that the door is still open for you to return to Aston Villa in the summer. What do you hope to gain from this loan move?I guess only time will tell whether the door is still open for me. I know he has said that, but I don't know if that is the case. I'd been left out of several squads in a row, so I don't know if the door is open.There were opportunities where I could have been in the squad, on the bench or played, but a regular left-back was preferred in my position so that was strange. But he's welcome to say that and I'm contracted to Aston Villa. As things stand, I will be returning there for pre-season.If I put myself in the shop window with this opportunity that I have here, be it at Newcastle or somewhere else, I'll see what comes my way. But as far as I know I'll be returning for pre-season with Aston Villa and whatever happens over the summer period, I'll take in my stride when it comes to me.From what you've just said, though, if there was a chance to move to Newcastle in the summer you would be open to it?I feel really settled even though it's only been a week. I'm settled in my accomodation, I've been around the city a few times now and Leon Best has taken me out and taken me to his house. I do feel settled.Obviously being injured at the moment is not good, but when I'm fit I think that will help me settle even more so I'm trying to get back as quickly as I can.And when you are fit and playing again, what do you think you can bring to the team?First and foremost I just want to work hard for the team, the squad, fight as hard as I can for the cause and win some matches.Obviously if assists and good performances and goals come, that would be a bonus, but first and foremost I want to work hard for my team, my team-mates, and for the fans - to show them I can knuckle down and work hard. Hopefully I can bring a bit of flair and a bit of my ability to the team too.
Is there an echo in here, he said the same thing when he came to us... stupid little man!
Quote from: The Left Side on February 05, 2011, 06:20:17 PMIs there an echo in here, he said the same thing when he came to us... stupid little man!Amazes me how you can be so venomous towards the guy like this to be honest.
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Topic: Stephen Ireland: Loan to Newcastle confirmed (Read 59219 times)
