Manchester City boss Mark Hughes believes a number of his players can learn from the new Stephen Ireland. City midfielder Ireland has been in inspirational form this season after putting the controversies of recent years behind him to concentrate on his football, at club level at least.

The 22-year-old Corkman made more headlines off the field than on last season, most infamously after telling a white lie about the death of a grandmother and refusing to play for the Republic of Ireland.

Now, despite his continued international exile, those problems seem to be in the past and Ireland was again superb as City secured a place in the last eight of the Uefa Cup in Aalborg on Thursday.

“He is having an outstanding season,” said Hughes. “We keep mentioning the season he is having but he is a guy that has a real drive and determination to have an impact on every game he plays.

“He is prepared to stand up and be counted and put a shift in for the team. I think he is an example to every one of the players in the squad. He made a decision at the end of last season that he wasn’t happy with the way his career was going. He made a conscious effort to do something about it.

“Because of the work that he has done and the work some of the coaches have put in, it has enabled him to become a better player. Everyone can learn from his example.”

Ireland is hoping to overcome an ankle injury to keep his place in the City side to face Sunderland in a crucial Premier League encounter at Eastlands tomorrow.