Reid rules out apologising to Trapattoni

ANDY REID will not be offering Giovanni Trapattoni an apology to win an international recall – but he insists he is a better player now than when last included in an Ireland squad.

The veteran Italian coach last worked with Sunderland midfielder Reid when he left the 27-year-old on the bench against Cyprus at Croke Park in October last year.

While the Dubliner has not spoken to anybody in the Irish management set-up since then, Trapattoni reportedly had strong words with Reid after a late night singing session after the previous game against Georgia.

In recent weeks Reid’s club boss Steve Bruce suggested an apology to the Ireland boss could see the former Tottenham winger wear the Irish shirt once again.

“I think the point that the manager was trying to make was that if that’s what it takes to get in, but the point I made to him was that I don’t feel I’ve anything to say sorry for,” said Reid of Bruce’s suggestion.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong. I just want to get on with playing football. If I get into the squad I want to get in for football reasons. That’s what I do. I’m not a politician or anything else.”

Reid was commenting yesterday at the opening of his father’s taxi service in the regenerated Dublin inner city district of Fatima.

The midfielder is clearly in the best physical shape of his career and is confident he is a better player now than he was 13 months ago.

“I would say that’s a very fair assessment. I feel I’m in better shape now. Mentally I’m in a better frame of mind,” he said.

“Probably one of the most important things is that I’m enjoying my football more than I have done for a while. I’m really enjoying working with the manager that I’ve got now.’’

Reid is frustrated at his certain non-involvement in Ireland’s two-legged World Cup play-offs against France but he is ready to return to international duty in an instant.

“At no point have I said I wouldn’t play for Ireland. That’s 100%. I’m ready to play anytime I’m called upon,” he said, admitting that he will be an anxious fan watching at home on TV.

“I think we can do it. We can get a win in Dublin and I think we can go there and get a decent result.

“I back the lads 100% and wish them all the best that they go and get a great result and do the country proud.”