Frustrated Ireland desperate to repay Magpies faith

MIDFIELDER Stephen Ireland is desperate to repay Newcastle’s faith in him after belatedly making his debut.

The 24-year-old Irishman has been a frustrated bystander for much of the past two and a half months after arriving from Aston Villa on loan in January with a knee injury and then picking up a thigh strain as he neared full fitness.

He finally got his chance in a black and white shirt 69 minutes into the club’s hard-fought 0-0 draw with leaders Manchester United on Tuesday night, and is now determined to make up for lost time over the last five games of the Premier League campaign.

Ireland joined Villa from Manchester City in the summer but failed to make his mark under Gerard Houllier.

However, he is delighted to have the chance to impress Newcastle boss Alan Pardew. Ireland said: “It’s been really frustrating for me. I have not really had a manager who has wanted me to play and I have felt like an outcast for a while. It’s nice to be treated normally for once. I haven’t had that in a while.”