Stephen Ireland has been linked with a return to Championship giants Aston Villa after being released by Stoke City.
Well this has not gone down well.
The 31-year-old is a free agent after being released by Stoke City following their relegation from the Premier League. And, while Ireland has the vision and the footballing brain that most midfielders at Championship level would kill for, it does not seem that his potential return would be all that popular.
Far from it in fact.
Although the doubts around Ireland’s suitability have very little to do with his ability. The former Manchester City man was a wonderful creative talent capable of unlocking tight defences but it is fitness, rather than form, that has Villa fans worried.
Ireland managed just 34 league starts for Villa since signing from City for £8 million in 2010. And those injury problems have only got worse since. In the last two seasons, Ireland has been included in Stoke’s XI for a Premier League fixture on just one occasion.
Villa might be stuck in financial chaos so it makes perfect sense to scour the market for free agents. But are one of England’s greatest clubs really so desperate that they will take a massive risk on Ireland?
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