Ireland’s loss as Reid puts club future first

STEVEN REID’S decision to concentrate on his club football at West Brom is not only Ireland’s loss but also Celtic’s, the midfielder having confirmed that, before deciding to sign for the newly promoted Premier League side on a permanent basis, he had been close to a move to the SPL.

Reid, who announced his international retirement yesterday, was at The Hawthorns last season on loan from Blackburn Rovers and helped the club get back in the top-flight at the first attempt.

But he admits that, before he decided to commit to the Baggies for a further two years, he’d given considerable thought to signing for Celtic.