Alex McLeish backs Stephen Ireland to shine
Wednesday 30th November 2011, 10:58AM GMT.
Alex McLeish today insisted Stephen Ireland has a major part to play this season, despite failing to establish himself as a regular starter under the Villa boss.
The 25-year-old midfielder has only started three Premier League games as he looks to recapture form and fitness after being frozen out by former manager Gerard Houllier last season.
And McLeish is confident Ireland – who missed Sunday’s draw at Swansea through injury – will make a significant contribution after he praised his attitude in training,
“He’s worked really hard. He’s always one of the star performers on the training ground because of his touch and his vision. I certainly can’t say that he hasn’t applied himself,” said the Villa boss. “Stevie, like everybody else when we’re 13 games into it, has just got to be patient. Players don’t realise sometimes that it just takes the snap of your thumb and fingers to trigger your form again and you are back on top.”
McLeish believes Villa will start to see the best of Ireland when they find a system which can best utilise his talents.
“I’ve still got hopes for Stevie. We probably need to have the right players to play alongside him,” explained McLeish.
“When you see his breaking and counter-attacking. That’s the Stevie Ireland that I remember.”
UK Sport
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But under Mcleish we don’t ‘break and counter attack’, we hoof and foul. That’s all he knows.
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