SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S MIND GAMES JUST THE JOB FOR STEPHEN IRELAND

[RoterTeufel]

SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S MIND GAMES JUST THE JOB FOR STEPHEN IRELAND

ASTON VILLA have got an £8m player out of the deep freeze – thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Stephen Ireland had become a lost soul after arriving as part of the deal which took James Milner to Manchester City in August 2010.


Now the 25-year-old is back to his best ­after boss Alex McLeish used a trick he picked up from former Aberdeen boss Fergie. The Villa boss said: “I’m thinking he is starting to look like the player he was at City.


“I’ve told him the form he is in he can play anywhere.


“It’s mind games for everyone these days – not just Stevie. It is a psychological world we live in, especially with footballers.


“Sir Alex put me right 10 years ago when I went to see him at United and asked if he could do things the same way as he did with us at Aberdeen.


“He said, ‘No chance, you need to be a psychologist now’. And he was dead right.”


Meanwhile, Villa have agreed a deal with Australian international midfielder Brett Holman.


The 27-year-old, who has 53 caps, will join in the summer when his contract with Dutch league leaders AZ Alkmaar ends.