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Relegation not an option as West Brom defender Steven Reid eyes Spurs win

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Steven Reid knows his Premier League days might be coming to an end.

But if the Albion defender is to bow out of top-flight action this summer, he is determined not to do it with relegation on his CV.

The former Ireland international, who has been back in the Baggies team in recent weeks and is set to start again against Tottenham tomorrow, has never suffered the ignominy of the drop.

And the 33-year-old, whose Hawthorns contract expires at the end of the season, is not ready to tarnish his resume in what could be the final month of his successful career at the top level.

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"Over the last few months I've been thinking about my own career, 11 years in the Premier League, and going forward whatever happens with my own personal situation in the summer – whether I stay here or move on – I don't want a relegation on my CV," said the former Millwall and Blackburn man.

"It's 11 years in the Premier League and if it was to be the end of Premier League football in the summer then to finish it with relegation would be disastrous."

Reid signed a new one-year contract at The Hawthorns last summer and admitted that another season of struggle with injury would prompt him to assess his future.

He has again been blighted with fitness worries this term while the early-season form of Billy Jones, who is back from injury and set to return to the bench tomorrow, left Reid battling to even make the matchday squad for much of the campaign.

But he has played an important role in the recent wins at Swansea and Norwich that have left the Baggies within touching distance of securing their top-flight futures.

And he admits that, if his time at The Hawthorns is coming to an end, he is determined to go out on a high.

He said: "When you sit down and chat with the lads, whether it's loan players going back to their clubs, players out of contract or those who might retire – at the end of the day, relegation is not going to do you any favours whatever your agenda is.

"Relegation on your CV is going to devalue whatever happens for yourself going forward as far as I'm concerned.

"People's jobs are on the line as well, these things cross your mind when you're in this position.

"So it's no time to relax after Norwich, I just keep that idea in the head and hopefully it will be enough to keep us in the league."

The Baggies' victory at Carrow Road last weekend left them on 32 points, potentially just one more victory away from securing their top-flight status for another season.

And, after Morgan Amalfitano's 16th-minute goal set the tone against the Canaries and secured a second win for boss Pepe Mel, Reid is targeting another fast start against Tim Sherwood's side.

"It would be nice to get the first goal," he said.

"Although it's not always been the case this season, I think we've been two-nil up three or four times and not gone on to win the game.

"On their day Tottenham can beat anyone in the league.

"We've seen how good they are going forward but also if they don't quite get it right then there's a great possibility we can get a result out of that game.

"We got a hard-earned draw away on Boxing Day, so that was a good result down there, where we've done well in recent years.

"Hopefully we can go one better and get a win in this one."