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Alex McLeish wants to keep Stephen Ireland at Villa Park, despite talk of the Irish international looking for a move away. Ireland has finally forced his way into Villa's first team despite spending lengthy periods on the bench in recent years.
Since joining Villa, Ireland had failed to reproduce the form that made him a club hero at former club Manchester City. But four starts in four games has provided Ireland with the platform to force force his way back into the first team.
"During the last couple of weeks of good games he has played his training has also been different class," said McLeish.
"The pictures he sees are those only great players can see. I was a half-decent footballer, but I definitely could not see the pictures Ireland sees and many others can't either.
"He deserves to be in the team. He wants to go through brick walls for the fans and the club and that has endeared him.
"It has not happened overnight, we have been chatting to the boy and showing him videos. It has to click with the player eventually.
"We looked at some of the City stuff. He is a tremendous footballer and it would be a shame to see that talent not fulfilled."
Written by Conroy Sanders
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