Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

Hughes wanted Ireland stay

24 Sep 2008 - 17:08:51

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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes claims it was never in his mind to sell midfielder Stephen Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland international was expected to join Sunderland during the summer only for Hughes to reportedly intervene and keep the midfielder at Eastlands at the 11th hour.

Ireland has started the new season in impressive fashion and Hughes has revealed his importance to the side after being named man-of-the-match in last weekend's 6-0 rout of Portsmouth.

"Stephen has arguably been our best player all season. He has put in some fantastic performances," he told the club's official website.

"He makes some fantastic recovery runs but myself and the coaching staff cannot take the credit for the condition he is in because he worked so hard during the summer and came back with a real determination to show that he wanted to be part of what we are doing.

"He has worked exceptionally hard from day one and is reaping the benefits now and so are we.

"I was never going to allow Stevie to leave and he has repaid that faith.

"I don't let players leave my club if I think it would weaken us and that would have been the case."