O'Neill will get another Milner for Aston Villa - Richard Dunne
Jul 23 2010 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
RICHARD Dunne has recommended Martin O’Neill targets Stephen Ireland to fill James Milner’s boots with Villa resigned to losing their star midfielder to Manchester City.
Milner is almost certain to complete his big money move to Eastlands this summer after O’Neill admitted that last season’s player of the year wants to leave Villa Park.
And Dunne believes O’Neill should make a move for his former City and Republic of Ireland team-mate Ireland when the two clubs finally strike a deal for Milner.
The experienced defender insists life will go on at Villa without Milner because the manager has a proven track record of recruiting quality replacements.
“Stephen Ireland’s brilliant so if he becomes available, absolutely I’d recommend him,” said Dunne, speaking from Villa’s Dublin training camp ahead of Saturday’s friendly with Bohemians.
“But the manager sorts his own deals and does his own thing.
‘‘He’s proved over the last three or four seasons that regardless of who comes and goes he ends up with a team that can push for the top four or five.”
Despite O’Neill giving little away about Ireland, the 23-year-old City midfielder could still form part of a deal to take Milner to Eastlands.
