Stephen Ireland reborn as Aston Villa's elder statesman "Well they have," he admits. But I've gone on to have a good career. The difference from that City experience is that this time Ireland finds himself at the other end of the age range. At 26 he was the oldest outfield player selected by the Villa manager Paul Lambert at the Stadium of Light. For a player whose antics - from dropping his shorts in celebration of a City goal to a fondness for pink paintwork on his Range Rover - previously suggested a juvenile disposition, this represents unexpected role reversal. Suddenly Ireland is that most unlikely of things: the senior professional. "Yeah, I find myself one of the experienced ones, which is a change," he smiles. I've never been in that position before. I wouldn't look at them as competition. I like it when home-grown lads come through, especially if they deserve it, work hard to be where they are. That's a real good story. Not that Ireland is entirely convinced we should be surprised at his conversion to elder statesman. Some time ago, embarrassed that when he Googled his own name all that came up were tales of pink wheels, he decided to concentrate solely on his game. No more scattergun verbals, no more dropped shorts; just hard work. Yet, he suggests, it took a while for those in charge to recognise the change. "I did come here under illusions," he says of his arrival in the Midlands in 2010. Villa had been sixth for the three previous seasons, I thought we could kick on. But Martin O'Neill left just before I got here. Then Gerard Houllier arrived. It is fair to say Ireland and the Frenchman did not form a bond. "When you have good intentions and you really want to achieve certain things for yourself, it's very hard when someone gets in the way and stops you from doing it," he says, the irritation evident in his voice. I was sent on loan after a few months and it was all very stop-start for me. It's only now I'm pretty much getting a fair crack at things. It shouldn't have taken me three seasons to get it. The impetus for fresh opportunity, he believes, has come from the dugout. Although he says he has nothing but respect for the previous manager Alex McLeish ("I like the guy"), he reckons the arrival over the summer of Paul Lambert has changed the mindset around the club. "We're being encouraged to play football, we're winning or losing in style," he says. It's probably not good to lose, of course, but at least we're having a go. We're only a few minor details away from being a good side. And he is not the only one who has noticed. "I think the fans are happier this year for obvious reasons," he suggests. They're behind us. The atmosphere hasn't been great for a while, but I feel they're appreciating the way we're going about things. The main thing Lambert has done, Ireland says, is raise expectations, rejuvenating not only the starting eleven, but the ambition of the entire playing staff. He's really hands on. He's honest, straight, upfront. You've got to work hard to get in the team. Everyone's chasing those places, but he's kept everyone involved. The players have bought in, see a good future ahead of them. From the first day till now it's been brilliant. He's done a really good job. I trust him to do a good job for the rest of the season. What's more, unlike at least one of his predecessors, Ireland says the new boss judges players not on reputation but performance. "Absolutely he gives you a chance," he says. He'll take you aside, show you footage of what you've done, tell you what he wants. He's working with everybody. As is Ireland. He believes that his new role as senior citizen brings its own responsibilities. "I want to give them advice, help them with their decision making," he says of the young players. That step up from youth to reserve to first team is massive. When I was trying to get into the first team at City, I'd been in the reserves since I was 16/17, playing with Richard Dunne, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, really experienced. I picked up from them. So with the young lads coming in and training with us, I hope to help them like I was helped. One thing he might advise his youthful colleagues is how to spend their free time. These days Ireland occupies much of his time kicking, punching and wrestling: he is an expert at martial arts. I feel it helps me as a player, puts fire in the belly. He will need his scrapping skills over the next few weeks. After United visit Villa Park on Saturday, a fortnight later he will find himself back at City. Those are two games I'm looking forward to. I think we can raise our game. United look good, very consistent. [Robin] Van Persie and [Wayne] Rooney are really getting that relationship going. They could be dangerous. Though not sufficiently dangerous, he insists, to deny Villa the opportunity to demonstrate once again how Hansen got it wrong 16 seasons ago. "Absolutely we can win something," he says. We have some good young players here and good experienced players. I think we should be up in the top half. We just need a few things to go our way. Stephen Ireland is endorsing the Acorns Children's Hospices "Now is the Time" campaign. Visit www.acorns.org.uk for more information. To donate text "AVFC12£3" to 70070