Pearce welcomes Ireland’s call for team place

STUART Pearce is hoping the imminent return of midfielder Stephen Ireland will lead to some competition for places at Manchester City.

Having broken into the first-team squad last year, Ireland quickly became a fixture in the City side yet a hamstring problem picked up in the Republic of Ireland’s calamitous 5-2 defeat in Cyprus has kept him out for a large portion of this term.

Said Pearce: “Stephen’s got to stay fully fit and put some pressure on the players that are playing in the team, get some training under his belt and get back, hopefully that will be this week.”