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Aston Villa to keep Stephen Ireland

21 January 2012 - 14:57

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.

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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.<br />

"During the last couple of weeks of good games he has played his training has also been different class," said McLeish.<br />

"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.<br />

"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.<br />

"It has not happened overnight, we have been chatting to the boy and showing him videos. It has to click with the player eventually.<br />

"We looked at some of the City stuff.&nbsp;He is a tremendous footballer and it would be a shame to see that talent not fulfilled."

Written by Conroy Sanders