Ireland beaten to PFA award

Stephen Ireland missed out on the PFA Young Player of the Year award as Aston Villa's Ashley Young beat off strong competition to scoop the top prize.

There were high hopes that Ireland could become the first City player since Peter Barnes in 1976 to win the award after such an impressive season that has seen him partner Robinho in midfield as well as scoring his fourteen goals this season, his latest coming in Saturday's 2-1 victory at Everton.

It is an amazing turnaround for the City youngster who was rumoured to be on the verge of a move to Sunderland last summer. He also battled against his problems with the Irish international side when, in September 2007, he fabricated a story that his grandmother had died in order to gain compassionate leave from the Irish squad. It was later discovered that his girlfriend had suffered a miscarriage.

Now Ireland seems to have turned the corner and the PFA nomination is just the start of what is promising to be an excellent career for the youngster.