Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has backed Stephen Ireland for a new contract.

He told City's website: "Some will think I'm unique, others boring, but for me it's not about the money. Football is a great profession to be in and I'm having a good life. It doesn't matter to me if someone else is having a better one.

"Players who are deserving can have as much as they like and it won't trouble me. I hope Stevie Ireland signs a new contract and they pay him whatever he wants, because for me he has been our best player this season.

"Whatever he earns, he deserves, and if I only get a hundredth or whatever fraction of what he is paid, it wouldn't matter to me as long as I had enough to be OK. I'd never compare myself to him, he's integral to the team."