Reid back in the picture as Ireland aim to beat Albania

MILLWALL’S powerful winger, Steven Reid, is likely to be handed the opportunity of helping Ireland pole vault over Albania and into line for one of the critical top two places in the European Championship qualifying Group Ten if he comes through a fitness test tomorrow.

Reid, 22 years of age and capped eight times by Ireland, figured prominently in manager Brian Kerr’s discussions on prospects for Saturday’s match at Lansdowne Road after yesterday’s training sessions in Carrickmacross. However, Reid will have to prove his fitness in a match against Ireland’s U21 squad before he can figure.

The problem is that Reid has not played since he injured his knee while playing for Millwall against Bradford on April 5. He underwent surgery and has only been able to train vigorously for the first time since teaming up with Ireland on Saturday.

“He has kept himself fit while recovering from the injury,” said Kerr. “Since he came to us at the weekend, he has been making steady progress and it is good to see him running freely and striking the ball with abandon. He is a player with a lot of potential that has not been seen yet. At times in games for Ireland I thought he has been a little tentative and he has not always looked particularly confident.”

The points made by Kerr were very pertinent. Reid, it will be recalled, received a late call-up for Ireland’s World Cup squad. He was on his way to London Airport to go on holiday with his girlfriend when he was contacted by mobile phone and told to travel to Sunderland instead to join the World Cup party.

He made substitute appearances for Ireland against Cameroon in Niigata and against Germany in Ibaraki. He made a huge impression in training where his physical strength, enormous athletic ability and powerful shot marked him out as a player of rare quality.

Progress was checked, however, this season and he said yesterday: “It has been a difficult season for me. After the World Cup everything looked good, but then I got injured early in the season with Millwall and I was out for four months.

“I played only half the season before I got injured again against Bradford so it has been frustrating.”

Just a week ago Damien Duff joined the growing group of people who predict a big career for Reid when he recommended him to his club manager at Blackburn Rovers, Graeme Souness.

“There has been speculation about the future, but I cannot do anything about that,” said Reid. “It was flattering to read Damien Duff’s praise and, because Millwall do not have a great amount of money, I expect I will be transferred if somebody comes in with an offer.

“When I have seen him play for Millwall it has always looked easy for him, he appears to be coasting,” said Kerr. “I think he could become a key player for us in many ways and I was impressed with the way he played for us against Scotland.”

Ireland won that match in Glasgow by two goals, but Reid has not been fit for any of Ireland’s matches since. He missed the championship games away to Albania and Georgia and also the friendly against Norway.

Hopefully he will be fully fit for the match against Albania because he offers Kerr many options. He has played as often on the left wing as on the right for Millwall and his impressive physique has enabled him also to make an impact at centre-forward.

“It is not for me to say I will be selected, that is up to the manager,” he said. “All I can do is work hard in training to try and impress him. But like everybody else in the squad, I hope I will be able to contribute in both matches. I am very close to being fully fit and, after the World Cup, I’ve been so looking forward to playing again for Ireland.”