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.”

On City’s current deficiencies in the final third, particularly evident in recent games against Sheffield United and Wigan, Pearce commented: “It’s difficult for me to sit here and say I’m looking for Stevie Ireland to solve the problem.

“He is a player that we believe has got a bright future at the club. Now it’s very important that I make sure he comes through at the right time and I keep educating him and he improves.”

The City boss thinks Ireland needs sustained involvement with the first team in order to realise his potential: “The more time he’ll spend out on the coaching pitch and the more time involved in match action the better he will get and the more educated he will become in the game.”

“He is certainly gifted with talent that’s for sure, he has broken into our first team at a very young age, like a few others. Now breaking in is fine, staying in is the tough bit,” Pearce continued.

“He’s had stop-start season so far and he needs to get back to full fitness and obviously put some pressure on me to put him in the team”

City are in Premiership action on Monday night when Middlesbrough are the visitors to Eastlands.