Houllier’s olive branch to Dunne and Ireland

EMBATTLED Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier yesterday revealed he is willing to give Stephen Ireland and Richard Dunne a chance to revive their Aston Villa careers.

Houllier criticised Ireland’s work-rate earlier this season after the shock exit of Martin O’Neill while Dunne is reported to have clashed with the Frenchman’s assistant Gary McAllister.

The duo, along with John Carew and Habib Beye, were absent from Villa’s recent defeats to Tottenham and Manchester City, prompting speculation they could be on their way out of the Midlands club this month.

But Houllier is adamant he omitted them from those games purely for footballing reasons, and says the quartet are still under consideration for selection.

“At some stage there will be (a way back for them), sooner rather than later,’’ he said yesterday. “They are out of the team only on footballing reasons, nothing else — all four of them.

“They weren’t performing at times. In life when you have to face adversity you fight. This is what you have to do. I think some players are affected mentally by what is happening here.

“They are man enough now to be counted and say ‘we can cope’ but it is a team thing.’’

However, while Houllier is ready to make peace with Ireland and Dunne, he has warned any players sulking about his no-nonsense managerial style that he’s not for turning.

“In terms of professionalism and training, yes we knew we would go through a difficult period,” he said.

“But if you ask me ‘Are you going back to an old style and an old regime when the players can come whenever they want and do whatever?’, No, it’s not that way.

“The road to success is not something which is straight and smooth. It’s rocky and it’s difficult.”

Meanwhile Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has played down talk of bringing in Spurs striker Robbie Keane in January.

Pardew is looking to offer Andy Carroll more support up front, and Tottenham are willing to let the out-of-favour Republic of Ireland captain Keane leave.

The Magpies manager admitted: “If any player of that sort of quality becomes available, we would be interested.

“Whether it is possible to bring them to the club, we will have to see. But I’m not going into individuals because we’ve had so many names thrown at us.’’ However Harry Redknapp yesterday insisted Keane will only be allowed leave White Hart Lane on a permanent transfer.

The Tottenham boss added that he is in no hurry to see Keane leave the club.

“We are not mad keen (on letting anyone leave), Robbie’s name keeps coming up, but he is not for loan and if he wants to then he wants to move permanently,’’ Redknapp said.

“I still think he could play a big part for us, he has fantastic ability and appetite for the game, so we will wait and see but there is nothing happening with anyone else."