New Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland: I felt unwanted at Manchester City

Aston Villa's new signing Stephen Ireland has admitted that he didn’t feel valued at former club Manchester City and believes that James Milner will have to fight for a regular starting position at Eastlands.

The Irish midfielder joined the midlands club as part of a deal that allowed Milner to be yet another addition to Manchester City this summer.

Ireland believes he got the better end of the deal after he revealed that Roberto Mancini didn’t give him a fair chance.

"I did feel unwanted at Manchester City” he told reporters.

"I was banging my head against a brick wall despite what I had done in training.

"I just went with the reserves, worked hard in the gym and kept as active as possible."

The City Player of the Season in 2009 added: "Without a shadow of doubt the situation I found myself in will happen a lot at Manchester City with all the high-profile players they have at the club.

"At Manchester City sitting on the bench I didn't feel part of the team. I was neither happy nor sad if we lost.

"I'm still young and hopefully Villa will get the best of me and I am now looking forward to the season."

"I can see why he wanted to go to Manchester City."

The 23-year-old midfielder thinks that Milner may struggle to become an established member of the City team but he admits he understands why he made the move.

"I can see why he wanted to go to Manchester Citym" he added.

"He can see the attraction of the move and the opportunity to become more established and become a superstar.

"But he faces a challenge of holding down a regular first-team place.

"I may have been forced out but I couldn't be more happy to be at Aston Villa.

"Richard Dunne is a good example of what can happen after leaving Manchester City to join Villa.

"A year on I can see how happy he is at Villa and I'm hoping that I will be as happy in a year's time.

"Richard was a huge part of Manchester City and it was a great shock to see him leave.

"It was as big a shock to him as everyone else but he could not have come to a better club as he proved with his performances last season.

"For me this is a positive, as this is exactly I want it to be."

Villa's caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald has already had experience working alongside the midfielder, during his stint as assistant coach to the then Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton.

MacDonald believes Ireland, who is due to make his first appearance against Newcastle on Sunday, is a positive addition to the squad.

"Stephen Ireland is a very talented player," he said.

"He is different from James Milner who is a power player.

"James has the drive to break the game up. He probably doesn't get into the box as much as Stephen Ireland. I think he glides across the pitch.

"I remember the first time I saw him training with the Republic of Ireland.

"I just thought I hadn't seen the kid before. He glides past people and rides tackles easily.

"His awareness of where his team-mates are on the pitch is fantastic and his choice on the weight of pass is one of his real plusses."

The Scotsman, who is still unsure whether his future as Aston Villa manager remains for the long term, is willing to wait for club owner Randy Lerner’s decision.

"It's been nice so far but I am a reasonably intelligent man that I would know whether to accept or decline the job.

"I have no problem with the timescale as Mr Lerner will be looking seriously at what he wants to do."