Ireland: Newcastle spell was a waste of time

Stephen Ireland returns to Newcastle this weekend after blasting his ill-fated loan spell on Tyneside last term as “a waste of time”.

Mercurial midfielder Ireland was bombed out of Aston Villa last season to Newcastle by then-boss Gerard Houllier.

The pair clashed over Ireland’s fitness and ­attitude and he was farmed out just five months after joining from Manchester City.

Ireland made only two substitute appearances for the Toon due to injury.

But now he is finally showing glimpses of his best Man City form under new Villa boss Alex McLeish.

He feels guilty Newcastle never got value for money from him after they coughed up most of his £60,000-a-week salary.

Ireland admitted: “I went to Newcastle hoping to get some games, but it never happened for me. It was a bit of a waste of time. I had an injury which knocked me off my momentum.

“They got me fit and it was unfortunate that I couldn’t repay them.

“I went on in the second half against Manchester United and did really well but in the next game against Blackpool I snapped my ankle ligaments.

“It was frustrating, but I’d like to think that’s behind me now.”

Ireland initially found himself on the bench at the start of the season under McLeish.

He said: “When the new manager came here I came back for the new season with high hopes. I didn’t play as much as I would have liked early on but I knew it was a long season and I would get in at some stage.

“I just had to keep the faith. Now I have got in the team, hopefully I can stay in there.”

Ireland has started six of the last seven games for Big Eck’s side and received his first man-of-the-match award against Everton.

“Now I finally have a chance to show what I can do and build up a bit of a reputation,” he said. “I’m hoping I can continue to grow."

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