There’s no promise of any Superman trunks but nothing would delight Stephen Ireland more than getting his first Villa goal against Sunderland.

The midfielder certainly could not have come much closer to opening his claret and blue account during last weekend’s goalless draw with Chelsea after being drafted into the starting line-up as a last-minute replacement for the sick Marc Albrighton.

First, he saw a third-minute shot creep agonisingly past Peter Cech’s post and later a goalbound effort was heroically blocked by Branislav Ivanovic.

But one team the Irishman has had few problems finding the net against, though, is Sunderland.

He scored on his last appearance at the Stadium of Light for Manchester City in a 3-0 victory two seasons ago, while they were also the opponents when he famously revealed his Superman shorts after scoring City’s winner at Eastlands in 2007-08.

So, who better then, for the 24-year-old to break his scoring duck against than Steve Bruce’s team tomorrow.

And, asked if the boxers could one day make a return, he replied: “If the right occasion comes, the fans can have something to smile about as well!

“Last time I played there I scored and did quite well. It is a good place to go but it is a hard place to go and I think we are all up for the challenge.

“I’d be happy to score anywhere. I need to get off the mark and start scoring and finding my touch but it is coming.”

With Albrighton fit again after recovering from a bug, Ireland knows he faces a fight to hold on to his place.

“It has been frustrating (on the sidelines) but I am part of a team here so I am just waiting to be called on,” added Ireland.

“If I am called on then I need to be ready to go in and if someone else is playing instead of me that is fine because I am part of the team.

“But hopefully I can play tomorrow and keep building on that.”

Having arrived at the club when they were still managerless, Ireland admits he could not have wished for a better boss than Gerard Houllier.

“I looked forward to Gerard coming. Under him, training has been really good, high intensity, and everything is match-related.

“He’s come in and said, ‘Look, I’ve got just three or four rules, you live by them’.

“And I think with Gary McAllister and Gordon Cowans, he has excellent back-up.”

The Black Cats have already beaten Manchester City this season, as well as holding Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal to draws.

But Ireland has urged Villa, who sit five places and two points above them in eighth, to build on last weekend’s performance against the league leaders.

He added: “We drew against the champions and I think now we have to start picking up points. Sunderland are a strong side who are good at home.”

Albrighton, Richard Dunne and Emile Heskey are all set to return but Luke Young (hamstring) and Gabby Agbonlahor (groin) again miss out.