Why Reid will never take the Mick

BLACKBURN new boy Steven Reid might have left Mick McCarthy and the Nationwide League in his rear view mirror, but he hasn’t forgotten the grounding both have supplied to his burgeoning career.

Reid will be battling for a place in Brian Kerr's starting XI for Saturday's European Championship qualifier against Russia at Lansdowne Road, but despite his rapid progress, he acknowledges that competition is "intense."

"Midfield is a real strength for us at the moment and sometimes you have to accept the manager has other options," Reid admits.