The Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has said that he is confident that he can unlock the potential of the star midfielder Stephen Ireland, who has been hit and miss since his move from Manchester City a few seasons ago.
The midfielder playmaker has the capability of playing in a variety of roles, but his attitude has been one of the main reasons for not hitting the nail during his time at Aston Villa. The manager Paul Lambert reckons that Stephen Ireland could be one of the best players in England provided he manages to change his attitude for the better.
Ireland has been picked on a more regular basis since the arrival of Paul Lambert. He has utilised him in the central part of the attacking trio behind the lone striker. This is paid a lot of dividends even though the team is yet to get points on the board on a regular basis. Stephen Ireland was one of the best players for Aston Villa in the recent 3-2 defeat against Manchester United. He helped the team get a two-goal advantage in the match through his defensive and attacking abilities. The 26-year-old can become a lethal weapon for the team according to the manager.
“Maybe he now has that belief to go and use his ability to the best he can. Stephen thrives off a bit of freedom to make things happen. At this level if you have players like him it can help you can punish teams. He is a really clever player and a really talented footballer. He is one of the most naturally talented footballers that I’ve seen in a long while. Some of the football he played against Sunderland in behind the strikers was superb,” said Lambert prior to the match against Manchester United.