Ireland hails new arrivals

Midfielder ready to fight for place

Last updated: 2nd July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ireland hails new arrivals

Ireland: Excited by City's ambition

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Stephen Ireland has expressed his delight at the way Manchester City have strengthened their squad this summer but admitted that competition for places will now be fierce.

Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz have already joined City in big-money moves and Mark Hughes has vowed to make more signings.

Ireland is convinced that City will enjoy a more successful 2009/10 campaign and is looking forward to playing with his new team-mates.

But the midfielder realises that the pressure has now increased on existing squad members and even he will not be able to take a regular starting role for granted despite being the club's stand-out performer last season.

He explained: "What has happened this summer is really exciting and the squad is going to be a lot stronger, that is for sure.

"Players are going to have to be flexible and that is great. There will be a big fight to get into that first team of the season and that is my immediate aim.

"Then it will be to play so well that the manager can never think of leaving me out."

Balance

Ireland has also paid tribute to boss Mark Hughes for bringing in the right type of players.

"Gareth Barry is a very shrewd and clever signing by the manager. He is a top-class all-round midfielder who will give us more balance," he explained on the club's official website.

"Gareth knows his way around the Premier League and you know exactly what you will get from him.

"The great thing about Gareth and Roque, who is another crucial addition, is that they are players who are in their prime.

"They are experienced but not on the way down and we have got them at just the right time.

"Roque will help us vary our attacks more. He puts himself about and is a proper target man who also scores goals.

"He has always struck me as someone who is easy to play off because he holds the ball well and reads the game cleverly."