Houllier vows to get best out of Ireland

GERARD HOULLIER is old fashioned when it comes to communication and prefers some straight talking, which is why he will be seeking to get inside the head of Stephen Ireland over the next few months.

The Frenchman has a vision of transforming the rebel child into a mature star who could still have an impact on the international scene as well as be the Premier League star his talent merits.

Houllier is still getting to know the vast majority of his squad since replacing Martin O’Neill at Villa Park and rather than swap texts and emails, he would prefer spend some quality time, on a one-to-one basis with Ireland and really discover what makes the flamboyant midfielder tick.