Reid fluffs his lines in big audition

ANDY REID has waited 15 tortuous months for Giovanni Trapattoni to give him another chance with Ireland, but now he might just wish he had not bothered at all.

The Italian could have chosen any number of Sunderland home games to check up on the Dubliner’s form, which has been close to imperious at the Stadium of Light this season. Instead, he dropped by at Craven Cottage and was treated to the kind of listless performance which characterises Sunderland’s travel-sickness this season.

Having remained immune to Reid’s charms for almost the entire World Cup qualifying campaign – despite the emotional clamour for his recall by fans and pundits alike – Trapattoni is unlikely to hand him a second chance any time soon.