Reid ‘just loving getting that green jersey on again’

IT COMES as something of a shock to open the FAI’s team media guide and find that Steven Reid was winning only his 22nd senior cap for his country against Georgia. After all, seven years have passed since he made his debut.

Injuries have been a cruel companion in that time. Last month’s draw against Norway in Oslo was his first appearance in green in almost two years but it wasn’t the first lengthy absence he had endured from the international game.

The Blackburn midfielder’s name disappeared from the roster for further periods of 14 months and a year between 2004 and 2006. John O’Shea, who made his debut in the same game as Reid, against Croatia in 2001, has 25 more caps.