Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Ireland call boosted Albion’s Reid
Tuesday 19th April 2011, 4:45PM BST.
Albion defender Steven Reid has claimed quitting international football has helped him perform for the Baggies this season.
The 30-year-old has become Roy Hodgson’s first-choice right-back after filling in in several positions for former boss Roberto Di Matteo.
And Reid, who suffered a series of injury problems before joining Albion, has no regrets about retiring from the Republic of Ireland set-up last summer as it helps him rest for the Premier League campaign.
He said: “I still have to be careful sometimes and miss the odd day’s training to look after the body. I am just delighted to be back playing Premier League club football.
“It was a great experience and when I see the qualifying games I cheer the lads on.
“But I have had my time, I played in the World Cup in Japan and I will cheer the boys on now.”
Reid signed in the summer after an impressive loan spell with Albion at the end of last season but he suffered a frustrating campaign until Hodgson’s arrival.
And the former Blackburn man is now hoping to retain the Baggies’ right-back berth for the remainder of the season, despite making his name as a midfielder.
He said: “When I signed I was pretty confident I would be in the first-team from the word go.
“I’m disappointed I haven’t started more games this season, especially with the runs we’ve been on at times this season.
“But since the new manager has come in I’ve had a decent run of games and I am getting up to match tempo now.
“I’m pretty pleased with the way things have gone in the last few weeks, I was disappointed with Saturday but hopefully we can pick ourselves up and go on another good run again.
“I am happy at right-back. I am just pleased to be out there at all. He has seen me in recent weeks as a right-back and I can fill in, as I have done a few times in recent weeks.
“At Birmingham I stepped into central midfield with 20 or 25 minutes to go so I am just delighted to be out there, wherever it may be.”
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