Stephen Ireland's future at Aston Villa will be decided this week.
The Daily Mail says Ireland's future will be decided this week after the Aston Villa midfielder did not even make Gerard Houllier's squad of 18 on Saturday.
The £8million arrival from Manchester City watched the victory over West Bromwich from one of the club's corporate boxes after failing even to earn a spot on the substitutes' bench.
It is the latest fall from grace that Ireland has suffered in what has been a miserable first few months at Villa Park following his transfer in August.
Ireland's representatives have asked for a meeting with Houllier, due to take place later this week, to clarify his immediate future.