Villain Ireland wants to be a hero

STEPHEN IRELAND is determined to rebuild his career at Aston Villa, after going from player of the year to spare part in barely 12 months at Manchester City.

The Cork man — who is in self-imposed exile from Republic of Ireland duty — was City’s outstanding player in the 2008-09 campaign, and recognised as such by his team-mates, but a year later he found himself being ushered away by new manager Roberto Mancini and with little option but to move on.

He turns 24 on Sunday, and believes by leaving Eastlands as part of the deal which took James Milner to City he has taken his career in the right direction.