Superman to Newcastle on loan.

[Sister of fu]

Aston Villa's Stephen Ireland set for Newcastle loan

Ireland joined Villa from Manchester City for £8m last summer
Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland is close to agreeing a loan move to Newcastle after travelling to the north east to undergo a medical.

The 24-year-old is set to become United boss Alan Pardew's second signing of the transfer window after Hatem Ben Arfa completed a permanent move.

Ireland has struggled to rediscover his best form this season after moving to Villa from Manchester City last summer.

The last of his 13 appearances this season was at Liverpool on 6 December.

Newcastle are hopeful they can finalise the deal before the Premier League transfer window closes at 2300 GMT on Monday.

Should it go ahead Ireland could make his debut at Fulham on Wednesday evening.

Coincidentally, Ireland made his first appearance for Villa against Newcastle at St James' Park on 22 August, a game which he will not remember fondly as the Magpies romped to a 6-0 win.

[DoomMerchant]

hope he finds his legs and does something with his career. Surely, paired up with Barton now there's a chance for redemption. Not a joke.

cheers

[Sister of fu]

I think he is one of those players that needs an arm around his shoulder which Houlier didnt want to do, slagging him off was never going to work. Lets see how Pardew approaches the situation.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Newcastle look as though, on paper, they could have quite an interesting midfield combination in Barton, Nolan and Ireland.

Wonder if it will work for them ?? If it does - and they buy Ireland outright at the end of the season - intriguing to see what Superman's valuation then would be ??

[Moonchesteri]

Hope this works for Stevie..

[ashton287]

Superman my arse.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Superman my arse.

Fair comment.

[Longball]

racing to the bottom, good bye steve

[gaudy]

he'll end up at celtic

[Goaters 103]

Superman my arse.

This. The biggest misnomer nickname. One season wonder and perpetual basket case would be more fitting. Hope he decides to "give a shit" whether Newcastle win or lose when he's with them.

[Green & Blue]

He wont even get a regular start at barcodes.Sir Joey and Nolan are a decent pairing i cant see either making way for Ireland

[john@staustell]

[Rae4685]

Superman my arse.

Gimme a time and a place and I'll superman the shit out of it!

[Wooders]

and the countdown for him blaming pardew for him being shit begins

[ross.mcfc]

he'll end up at celtic

He would not last five minutes in the goldfish bowl of Glasgow.

[colonel_muck]

he needs to go back to hughes for his own sake. hughes style of play just suited him. he was so good in that season for us it was untrue. so intelligent and playing with a smile on his face.

[london blue 2]

Superman my arse.

Gimme a time and a place and I'll superman the shit out of it!

Na wa mean