Thursday Apr 12 2007 08:34
Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland is looking forward to spending the next four seasons with the club after penning a new long-term contract at Eastlands.
The 20-year-old Cork-born midfielder has already made 51 first-team appearances for City after coming through the cub's Academy and is a full Republic of Ireland international.
He told City's official website: "It's all well worth it now to get it signed so I can concentrate on my football.
"I don't have to worry about my immediate future, I've got a long contract now and it'll set me up for a few years to progress myself and become a fixture in the side.
"It's hard being a young player coming through from the Academy, you've got to be on form everyday in training, as well as the games.
"You have to take that chance, you see Bradley (Wright-Phillips), Willo (Flood) and (Lee) Croft getting sold last year, so I could have been in that boat.
"I'm glad that I've been kept on and I'm happy here and hope to stay for as long as possible.
"It's a good time for me to get my new contract, I've been here a few years and now I'm looking ahead to the next few.
"Personally, I just want to keep progressing, playing better and better and finish off a full season. I want to score more goals and get more assists."
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