Ireland future in jeopardy for Sunderland star Andy Reid

Jan 20 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

ANDY Reid’s international career with the Republic of Ireland appears to be over for as long as Giovanni Trapattoni remains in charge of his national side.

Reid and Trapattoni had a well-publicised falling-out following the Italian’s first game in charge against Georgia and the Sunderland midfielder has not featured since.

Although initially kept in the squad, the 26-year-old has since been left out of the party completely – he will also miss the return World Cup qualifier against the Georgians next month after being omitted from the squad announced yesterday – and it seems unlikely there will be a recall as Trapattoni has suggested the Black Cats player does not fit into the system he wants to play.

Reid was not called up for the friendly against Poland in November and, like Birmingham’s Lee Carsley, does not seem to have any prospect of an imminent return as he also fights for a regular starting berth on Wearside.

Trapattoni said: “I choose a system. I think about Andy Reid and Lee Carsley, and I think about (Stephen) Ireland. I need the players to repeat, repeat and repeat this system and we have a problem. Three or four of our players play always for their clubs, but the others don’t.

“My habit for 30 years has been I never speak about private situations – not only Reid or Ireland, but all players. I don’t want to speak about this situation.”

Although reluctant to explain his decision, it will undoubtedly be a tough blow for Reid to take as he has always maintained his desire to play for the Republic, despite his differences with the new Italian coach.

“I love playing for my country and that will never change,” said Reid, who could also only make the

substitutes’ bench for Sunderland’s 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa last weekend.

“Playing for Ireland means a lot to me and I would gladly pay for my own airfare to represent my country. But there is nothing more I can do than get my head down at Sunderland and see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Craig Gordon is expected to resume full training next week as he begins the next phase of his Sunderland comeback.

The Scotland goalkeeper has played just once since September, but hopes his troublesome ankle injury is behind him as he attempts to reclaim the number one position from Márton Fülöp.

He said: “I’m not yet back in full training, but I’m out there with the rest of the goalkeepers and close to it.

“It’ll take a week or so for me to get back up to full speed. The physios will chart my progress over the next few days, keep an eye on me to make sure I’m not going too fast. The last thing I want is for the injury to reoccur.”

Gordon’s last appearance came in Roy Keane’s final game in charge when he conceded four goals against Bolton Wanderers. The £9m signing from Hearts suffered a reaction following that match, allowing Fülöp to further his claim to be considered the club’s first-choice shot-stopper.

Manager Ricky Sbragia, though, is looking forward to when he is asked to make a decision on which goalkeeper to play in the Premier League.

He said: “Craig is coming back, but I think it’s just one of those injuries where we’re going to have keep a very close watch on things. He’s done some kicking, and seems happy with it.

“Previously, he’d been getting twinges, but that seems to have gone now. If I get him back before the middle of February, I’ll be over the moon, but he’ll need some practice. He’s played something like one game in the last 15 weeks or so, so it is inevitable he’s going to be rusty.

“We will certainly have to look at giving him at least a reserve game and the same is likely to apply to George McCartney.

“Manchester United used to do that with players who had been out for a while, giving them a run-out in the reserves, and I agree with that way of thinking.

“They’ll need at least 45 minutes, and then maybe 60 after that because you can’t expect players to come back after long lay-offs and not be rusty.”

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: Shay Given (Newcastle), Dean Kiely (West Brom), Keiren Westwood (Coventry); Alex Bruce (Ipswich), Damien Delaney (QPR), John O’Shea (Manchester United), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Paul McShane (Sunderland), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Stephen Kelly (Birmingham), Steve Finnan (Espanyol), Kevin Kilbane (Hull), Aiden McGeady (Celtic), Damien Duff (Newcastle), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Glenn Whelan (Stoke), Keith Andrews (Blackburn), Liam Miller (QPR), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Andy Keogh (Wolves), Caleb Folan (Hull), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Robbie Keane (Liverpool), Shane Long (Reading), Noel Hunt (Reading).