Outcast Ireland hoping to stay with Man CityStephen Ireland is keen to remain at Manchester City and fight for his place in the side, despite suggestions that he will not form a part of Roberto Mancini's 25-man squad for next season.
Ireland was City's Player of the Year for the 2008-09 campaign but enjoyed little playing time under Mancini last season. It is even reported that there will be no room for the midfielder in the 25-man squad that City must announce for the coming season, in line with new Premier League rules.
Ireland remains convinced that he can prove himself to Mancini and hopes to be given until the January transfer window to demonstrate he is still worthy of a place in the City team, despite the club embarking on another ambitious summer of spending.
"I have read in the papers about supposed interest from Sunderland and Fulham and maybe even Aston Villa but I haven't heard anything directly," Ireland said. "Ideally, I would like to stay and build a future here. I am not going to rush in to anything, anyway. I think it's best if I see what happens during the first half of the season and perhaps give the situation until Christmas.
"If things aren't right at this stage then we can look at it again. I have worked hard during my years at City and I love the club. I decided in the summer that I was going to get my head down and do what I can to show the manager that I am worth a place on his team.
"It didn't go that well for me last season, when there were a lot of changes at the club, but it is only a season ago that I was Player of the Year at the club and my view is that I haven't become a bad player overnight. The manager hopefully doesn't think that either."
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