Reid boost as World Cup hopes resurrected

BARELY a week after Giovanni Trapattoni appeared to place a question mark on Steven Reid’s ability to recover fully from injury, the Irish camp has sought to placate the Blackburn Rovers midfielder who has gone public with his shock at hearing the manager’s gloomy prognosis.

Far from fearing for his long-term future, Reid – who underwent knee surgery after playing in Ireland’s opening two games of the World Cup qualification campaign – says that he now hopes to be available for the play-off against France next month, although he adds that he wouldn’t expect to start.

Yesterday, Liam Brady was in touch with both men as he sought to repair the lines of communication, and the Ireland assistant manager subsequently told reporters in Dublin that, with some more games under his belt, Reid will be firmly back in contention for his country, possibly in time for the crucial play-offs in Dublin and Paris.