Pardew urges Ireland to prove himself.

It looks like Stephen Ireland is finally fit to play some part for Newcastle as the final six games of the season loom large.

It's been two-and-a-half months since Ireland made his deadline day loan switch from Aston Villa, and we are still waiting for him to kick a ball for us after his initial injury, and then a further injury, prohibited him from taking part in any games for us, aside from semi-naked nightclub games of course.

However, there is now some positive news on Stephen Ireland as Alan Pardew has revealed that Ireland will be fit enough to take a place on the bench for next Tuesday's game against Manchester United. In fairness it's the sensible move considering the lack of match practice Ireland has had.

"He won't start, but he'll be on the bench," Pardew told the Northern Echo. "That will really beef up our offensive capability and, if I'm honest, it needs it."

Two things we can take from that. One is that Pardew can see that we are weak up front, which is pretty obvious to be fair, and the other is that Ireland is going to be used in an attacking capacity, perhaps in a more creative capacity. I mean we did struggle to create anything against Aston Villa at the weekend so hopefully Ireland can be a positive influence in that role.

I say hopefully, and that is for our sake as fans, and for Ireland's sake as a player as Alan Pardew laid down the challenge to the 24-year-old and has given him these next six games to prove that he is worth a move to Newcastle in the summer.

"I don't think there's pressure on Stephen as a player because he's already proven he is a very good player at Manchester City," said Pardew.

"The question with Stephen is whether he can do it in a black and white shirt. We've got this period between now and the end of the season where he has to show he can. If we don't see it in the next six games, it's highly unlikely we are going to bring him here permanently."

"He has to be comfortable at the club, and we have to be comfortable with him. This is a very important period for him, and we hope he's going to feature heavily in these last six games."

So the challenge is there in balck and white - Ireland has to perform or he is out! It seems a bit harsh to me and I would have preferred to use Ireland's idea and look at a second loan spell should things not work out this season. I mean he was signed when he was injured, and it was from trying to rush him back that he got injured again. Pardew knows this, as he explains here:

"We took him injured, and the loan deal reflects that because he hasn't cost us any money. He will cost us when he plays, and I can't wait to pay some money for him. There weren't many better midifelders around a couple of years ago when he was at City. He was outstanding."

I'm sure we're all hoping that we get the Manchester City Stephen Ireland and not the one that seemed uninterested at Villa Park earlier on in the season. If we can coax the former out of Ireland then we could have some player on our hands. Of course much of that will depend on just how Stephen responds to the pressure that has now been placed on him to perform after such a long lay-off.

Pardew is playing Mr Motivator with this challenge. It could prove to be a masterstroke, or it could fail massively.

Time will tell.