Stephen Ireland knows just how far he has come in the past year, but Manchester City's Player of the Season is determined to surpass those achievements by playing a key role in the club's future.
The start of the new campaign just cannot come soon enough for the midfielder, who has gone from zero to hero at Eastlands.
It was after an 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on the final day of the 2007/08 season that shook him to change his mentality towards a career that was heading for oblivion.
Ireland's reputation was already stained when he tried to excuse himself from international duty with the Republic of Ireland in Sept 2007, by claiming two grandmothers had died. The reality was his girlfriend had suffered a miscarriage, but the damage had been done.
He has not played for his country since, but a more positive attitude has seen him become an inspirational figure for City and earn plaudits from all quarters.
"It was weird over the last pre-season," he admitted. "I asked a lot of questions of myself and wasn't sure what could happen.
"I know a lot of fans didn't fancy me. I went to a supporters club event after that Boro game and every single fan was negative.
"Some players might hide in the corner, but I didn't. I dedicated my summer to getting it right. It was tough for about two months at pre-season and the start of the season, but it now seems a blur. The fans seem to have forgotten all of that and don't hate me any more and that's a good thing.
"There's nothing better than to hear them singing your name and I've got to keep giving them reasons to sing my name. I'm happy I could turn things around."
Ireland admits his tale of transformation is one the fans should also remember when they consider the managerial position of Mark Hughes.
The Welshman has been under pressure as City finished 10th in the league and missed out on a place in Europe next season.
But the club's owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, has backed Hughes and Ireland added: "I am really happy for him - and the club.
"There may be some doubts in people's heads, but in time people will realise he is the right man.
"It's like me in pre-season last year. People did not want me to be at the club anymore. Some people were saying if Sunderland wanted to pay £8 million (Dh46.9m), then they would drive me there themselves. That hurts, you know.
"But it's how you deal with it. The manager has dealt with it in his way and I've dealt with it in my way. It's great he's got the backing because in time people will realise he's the right man for the job."
Ireland, 22, has been a pivotal figure for City under Hughes with his stylish displays and 13 goals. The club are in talks with him over a new long-term contract and, despite reported interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, he says he is not worried if a deal takes time to reach agreement.
"I don't think it's a major issue to sign it. I want to be here and I'm going to be here regardless, I've still got two years left.
"We are in talks and fingers crossed things will be done smoothly and I can enjoy my summer.
"But I'm ready to go for next season. It's going to be exciting, exciting times and will be interesting to see who comes in during the summer.
"But I'm really hungry to push on too. I don't think I'm under any pressure because I don't think people have seen anything really.
"It's been a good season, but not good enough. Sometimes I kick myself over certain things, that I now want to make right next time. I think there's plenty more to come.
"I just want to work on my all round game. When I run a lot, I have to run effectively. Some games I have, some games I haven't."
Being consistent in the mould of the Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, a constant driving force at Chelsea, is the target.
Ireland added: "They are consistent and always hit a certain target of goals and get all the highlights and praise.
"I know what I need to work on and what kind of player I want to be. The more experience I get, the better I will get. I want to fulfil my potential."
akhan@thenational.ae
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The view from The National
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Multitasking pays off for money goals
Tackling money goals one at a time cost financial literacy expert Barbara O'Neill at least $1 million.
That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
"I tell students that eventually, 30 years later, I hit the million-dollar mark, but I could've had $2 million," Ms O'Neill says.
Too often, financial experts say, people want to attack their money goals one at a time: "As soon as I pay off my credit card debt, then I'll start saving for a home," or, "As soon as I pay off my student loan debt, then I'll start saving for retirement"."
People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
"By putting off saving for the future, you are really inhibiting yourself from benefiting from that wonderful magic," says Kimberly Zimmerman Rand , an accredited financial counsellor and principal at Dragonfly Financial Solutions in Boston. "If you can start saving today ... you are going to have a lot more five years from now than if you decide to pay off debt for three years and start saving in year four."
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
UAE Tour 2020
Stage 1: The Pointe Palm Jumeirah - Dubai Silicon Oasis, 148km
Stage 2: Hatta - Hatta Dam, 168km
Stage 3: Al Qudra Cycle Track - Jebel Hafeet, 184km
Stage 4: Zabeel Park - Dubai City Walk, 173km
Stage 5: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet, 162km
Stage 6: Al Ruwais - Al Mirfa, 158km
Stage 7: Al Maryah Island - Abu Dhabi Breakwater, 127km
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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Company%20Profile
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Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
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The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
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How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
