Ireland: New boys have made life tougher

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland admits manager Mark Hughes’ summer recruitment drive has increased the pressure on existing members of the squad.

England midfielder Gareth Barry and striker Roque Santa Cruz have already moved to Eastlands and others are set to follow.

City are expected to win the race to sign former United forward Carlos Tevez and Hughes has not given up hope of luring Samuel Eto’o from Barcelona.

It all adds up to City starting next season away at Blackburn on August 15 in a stronger position than they finished the last campaign.

And despite Ireland being the club’s player of the year, finishing second-highest scorer with 13 goals, he is taking nothing for granted.

“What has happened this summer is really exciting and the squad is going to be a lot stronger, that is for sure,” said the 22-year-old Irishman.

“Players are going to have to be flexible and that is great. There will be a big fight to get into that first team of the season and that is my immediate aim.

“Then it will be to play so well that the manager can never think of leaving me out.”

Ireland is not scared of the competition that now exists within the squad and has welcomed the arrival of big-name signings.

“Gareth Barry is a very shrewd and clever signing by the manager. He is a top-class all-round midfielder who will give us more balance,” he told the club’s website, www.mcfc.co.uk.

“Gareth knows his way around the Premier League and you know exactly what you will get from him.

“The great thing about Gareth and Roque, who is another crucial addition, is that they are players who are in their prime.

“They are experienced but not on the way down and we have got them at just the right time.

“Roque will help us vary our attacks more. He puts himself about and is a proper target man who also scores goals.

“He has always struck me as someone who is easy to play off because he holds the ball well and reads the game cleverly.”

Hughes is still keen to strengthen his forward line and 28-year-old Cameroon international Eto’o remains top of his list, despite indications this week the striker will remain at the Nou Camp.

“My feeling is that it is the right time for him to help us in our ambitions,” he said.

“If we can get the players we are hoping for we will have more tools to do the job. We didn’t have that last year.”

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has told Spanish radio he has been left “saddened” by the way the Eto’o affair is being played out.

Earlier this week Barca offered the striker a new two-year contract but the player’s agent Josep Maria Mesalles has since claimed the club recently told him Eto’o had no future with the European champions.

“I think that what his representative is doing is not helping Samuel,” said Laporta.

“It’s a mistake to have the debate in the media. It’s not doing the player any favours.

“Personally this matter has left me a little disappointed, it saddens me because I hold Eto’o in high esteem.

“I will do everything possible to find the best solution for the club and for Eto’o. It would be best for both parties.”