Mark Hughes has handed owners of Stephen Ireland the ultimate reassurance on his starting role in the City side by declaring him their best player so far this term…
The darting midfielder has been a revelation for Hughes and his fantasy managers, notching 4 goals and 4 assists for an extremely modest price across the fantasy games.
In the FPL, Ireland started the season at just 5.5 but has since climbed in value to 6.4 and is now owned by a third of the participating managers. That makes him the most popular midfielder in the game, ahead of team-mate Wright-Phillips. In the Guardian game meanwhile, he has consistently ranked amongst the top three midfielders over the season.
The City manager is under no illusions as to his value to his side. Talking of the competition for places amongst the City squad, Hughes acknowledged just how effectively he has taken his chance this term…
“People were assuming that if new players were arriving, he would make way. But I never thought in those terms and certainly Stephen never did”, remarked Hughes.
“As it is, he has really grasped the opportunity he has been given and has been our best player from the start of the season”.
That would certainly appear to cement his position in the City side for the foreseeable, despite likely threats from Johnson and Petrov, when fit. Ireland’s stock is unlikely to show any sign of falling whilst he holds down a starting role in a City lineup that has scored 23 goals so far this term, the most in the Premiership.
The midfielder’s role in City’s attacking play has been significant. Of late he’s often been found scurrying into the box in support of the striker, with Wright-Phillips tending to be tucked further wide on the right. Indeed, while doubts grow off the back of four consecutive blanks for Wright-Phillips, fantasy managers can turn reliably to Ireland for a cheaper alternative.