Stephen Ireland

Steve Bruce has revealed that Stephen Ireland would be very costly for Sunderland to afford. Although Bruce expressed admiration for the skills of the Cobh native, who spend more time in the Manchester City Hospitality lounge than on the pitch last season, he doubts he has the resources to tempt the player to the Stadium of Light.

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has officially asked to leave the club.

Ireland, player of the year at Eastlands in 2008/09, has grown frustrated at a lack of opportunities under coach Roberto Mancini and has asked City to invite offers from elsewhere.

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland wants to swim with sharks - at home!

The Mirror says after the £100,000 aquarium, the £264,000 white Bentley convertible, the pink Range Rover and the Audi R8 with a Superman badge on the grille, Manchester City's bling king Stephen Ireland has excelled himself.

The midfielder has told friends he plans to dig up the kitchen floor at his new £5m mansion in Prestbury and replace it with glass. Under that, Ireland hopes to build a giant fish tank... with a shark in it.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed that Stephen Ireland will make his comeback from injury in Sunday's FA Cup fourth round clash with Scunthorpe United at Glandford Park. Ireland hasn't featured for City this year thanks to a hamstring problem.

Mancini also revealed that he would be rotating his team to cope with the demands of a testing month in the league and cups. There are no new injuries, but we will recall Stephen on Sunday," the Italian told reporters at his Friday press conference.

STEPHEN Ireland has deepened Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini’s injury crisis ahead of next Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final showdown against neighbours United. He is sidelined for two weeks with a damaged hamstring after limping off in the win at Wolves on Monday.

He will miss Saturday’s FA Cup third-round trip to Middlesbrough and that Carling Cup first leg with United at Eastlands. He hopes to be fit for the semi-final second leg at Old Trafford on January 19.

Manchester City will be without midfielder Stephen Ireland for two weeks with a hamstring injury. Ireland lasted just 55 minutes of Monday's 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolves and scans have revealed a minor strain.

The midfielder will now miss Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie with Middlesbrough and also next week's Carling Cup semi-final first leg showdown with city rivals Manchester United. He is also doubtful for the league visit of Blackburn Rovers to the City of Manchester Stadium on Monday January 11.

If the signing of one of the Premier League's greatest ever players is a mark of the progress made by Manchester City over the past year and a half, then an even greater indicator would be the fact that it is not immediately obvious how he could fit into their team. Patrick Vieira has made no secret of his desire for regular first-team football at City ahead of this summer's World Cup, yet Roberto Mancini's side already have a healthy complement of international central midfielders.

Midfielder Stephen Ireland is likely to return to the Manchester City team. Ireland was on the bench in midweek after recovering from injury with City defeating Manchester United 2-1 in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg.

Manager Roberto Mancini intends to use two-goal hero Carlos Tevez sparingly at Glanford Park, if at all. Roque Santa Cruz and recent signing Patrick Vieira are sidelined with calf injuries.