For the 1st time in the entire playing career of Stephen Ireland, he failed to make a single competitive appearance for his club during the 2016-17 English Premier League season due to an injury that the Irish midfielder sustained back on April.
Even though the 30 year old footballer could not make a single league appearance for Stoke City during the season of 2016-17, the English club still opted to offer the experienced player a contract which will be keeping him in Stoke City at least for 6 more months.
¨Stephen has been forced to put his career on hold after suffering a very serious injury in training through no fault of his own.He’s working incredibly hard to get himself back to full fitness and we felt that it was only right to offer him a short-term contract to give him peace of mind while he continues with that process¨the chief executive of Stoke City, Tony Scholes said.
With the 2017-18 season of the English Premier League edging nearer, it was initially expected that Stephen Ireland would be released by Stoke City but surprisingly enough, the 30 year old player was offered a contract renewal and he decided to accept it.
Ireland arrived to Stoke City back on 2014 as he joined the English outfit on a loan deal and his contract was converted into a permanent deal.
Stoke City had to settle with the 13th spot of the English Premier League during the previous season of 2016-17 with 44 points collected after having lost 16 matches, tied 11 and won 11.
Stephen Ireland would have wanted to help his out and snatch a higher spot in the English Premier League but his injury made it impossible to get in the pitch, it still remains uncertain as to when exactly he will be fully recovered but Ireland is eager and motivated to make a return and help Stoke City, especially now with the contract renewal that he was given.