Villa manager Paul Lambert is said to be open to offers for the 26-year-old Irishman, who moved to the Midlands club from Manchester City in 2010.
Stoke boss Mark Hughes managed Ireland during his time in charge at City and he is expected to offer him the chance to revive his career the Britannia Stadium, according to Clubcall.com.
Ireland could be available for a fee in the region of £3m.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 13 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| 3 | Blackburn RoversBlackburn | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 11 |
| 4 | Burnley | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| 5 | Watford | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 10 |
| 6 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 7 | Oxford UnitedOxford Utd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 8 | Derby CountyDerby | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| 9 | Leeds UnitedLeeds | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 10 | Middlesbrough | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| 11 | Swansea CitySwansea | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 12 | Queens Park RangersQPR | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 6 |
| 13 | Stoke CityStoke | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 6 |
| 14 | Coventry CityCoventry | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 5 |
| 15 | Norwich CityNorwich | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 5 |
| 16 | Plymouth ArgylePlymouth | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 5 |
| 17 | Bristol City | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 5 |
| 18 | Millwall | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 19 | Luton TownLuton | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 4 |
| 20 | Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 4 |
| 21 | Preston North EndPreston | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -6 | 4 |
| 22 | Hull City | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 3 |
| 23 | Portsmouth | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 3 |
| 24 | Cardiff CityCardiff | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 1 |
| > Championship Full Table | |||||||||
