Stoke boss Paul Lambert insists Stephen Ireland has a chance of playing for him - despite not picking the Irishman for ‘football reasons’ when they were at Aston Villa together.

A year after Lambert took over at Villa Park - and after eight months without a game - the midfielder was sold to the Potters.

But the pair’s paths have crossed again since the former Villa manager was named as Mark Hughes’ replacement at the bet365 Stadium.

Lambert watched from the stands on Monday as Ireland played his first Premier League game since breaking his leg in May 2016.

And asked about his relationship with the 31-year-old Lambert told Sky Sports News things have moved on.

“I never had a problem with Stephen at Aston Villa, never once any cross word or anything. Just football moves on like that,” he said.

“I know he has had a really hard time with injuries here, I think that’s his second game in 20 months or so.

Video Loading

“That’s a long, long time being out and getting thrown in at the deep end, so I know he is a real talent Stephen Ireland - but you have just got to watch you don’t overburden him just because he’s been a long time out.

“Like everything else here, I think everybody will get a chance.”

Stephen Ireland of Aston Villa during the Pre Season Friendly match between Philadelphia Union and Aston Villa at PPL Park on July 18, 2012 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Ireland was in his third season at Stoke when he sustained the injury in training.

That kept him out of all of the 2016/1017 campaign and he made his comeback in the FA Cup defeat at Coventry earlier this month - a match that turned out to be Hughes’ last.

Ireland played just 57 games in there seasons at Villa having joined in a part-exchange deal that sent James Milner to Manchester City.

Lambert is set to pick his first Stoke team when Huddersfield visit on Saturday.

All you need to know about Aston Villa now

Villa round up

Aston Villa will allow some of their fringe players to leave this month as they seek regular football, reports Gregg Evans.

Tommy Elphick is likely to be the most high-profile exit and his departure could pave the way for Axel Tuanzebe’s arrival from Manchester United.

A number of Championship clubs are interested but boss Steve Bruce has said he is happy to keep him on board.

Villa have also knocked back a couple of offers for Aaron Tshibola who has scored two goals in his last two U23 games.

He will be on the move this month but is tempted by a switch abroad rather than another loan spell in England.

Birkir Bjarnason is wanted by Serie B side Parma but Villa are not letting him go on the cheap.

They paid £2million for his services this time last year and will want to recoup at least that amount back if they let him go.

Bjarnason played the second-half of the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend, replacing injured Glenn Whelan at the break.

And he showed that he can still play a part with an impressive display in defensive midfield.

Elsewhere Easah Suliman has been tracked by Oldham, Scunthorpe and Scottish Premier League side Ross County, managed by Owen Coyle.

A number of loan requests have also been made for Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Callum O’Hare but boss Steve Bruce will not let them leave.

Grujic goes elsewhere

Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic has joined Villa's promotion rivals Cardiff City on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

The 21-year-old midfielder was reported to be on Steve Bruce's radar earlier this month but Villa's boss has chosen to pursue other targets.

Middlesbrough were also interested in Grujic but Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was only keen for the player to leave Anfield for guaranteed first team football.

McCormack's latest interview

Ross McCormack has hit back at A-League critics and reiterated his desire to extend his loan spell at Melbourne City.

McCormack, 31, has scored 13 times in just 15 appearances since joining Melbourne on an injury replacement loan deal from Aston Villa in September.

And the striker reckons his current side - as well as some of their opponents - could compete with the likes of Villa in the Championship.