18/12 The Sports Pages

Whereas Aston Villa was once a comforting home for Irish internationals such as Ray Houghton, Steve Staunton, Paul McGrath et al, it now seems to be an openly hostile environment for our own Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland, with Gerard Houllier opening the door for both to be moved on in the January transfer window.

According to this morning’s Irish Times, Houllier is fed up with the ‘whinging and moaning’ from some of his squad of late and has said that ‘those who are not happy’ will leave the club next month. Ireland and Dunne certainly fall into that category, with the former being frozen out of the first team picture since Houllier’s arrival and Dunne reportedly involved in a blazing row with the former Liverpool manager in recent weeks.

Speaking about Ireland, Houllier said: "He said he wanted to go in January to his agent. I’m not convinced, not so sure about that,” but later admitted “Once a player wants to go, he goes.”

It’s a big weekend of Heineken Cup rugby with Ulster, Munster and Leinster all in action this afternoon.

Leinster’s clash with Clermont Auvergne is arguably the most appetising of the day and the Irish Independent’s Hugh Farrelly believes that the return of talisman Brian O’Driscoll and a massive crowd at the Aviva Stadium will inspire the Blues to victory.

“The French will bring a Merle-like physicality,” writes Farrelly, “but a bumper crowd will have a role to play in what should be another magnificent occasion and could just spur the home side to a, narrow, home victory.”