Buoyant Reid not giving up on Ireland
Oct 7 2009 by Steve Brown, The Journal
ANDY REID insists his international career is far from over, as he admits to loving life in the “best” Sunderland side he has played in.
The Republic of Ireland have crucial World Cup qualifiers against Italy on Saturday and Montenegro four days later, but Reid has not figured for his country since falling out with coach Giovanni Trapattoni just over a year ago.
The Italian had questioned Reid’s form and fitness, leading to reports of a late-night row following the Republic’s World Cup qualifying win in Georgia.
The 27-year-old subsequently lost around 10 kilos and has been an instrumental factor in the Black Cats’ solid start to the Premier League season.
He had hoped that might lead to the opportunity to add to his 27 caps but, while Reid continues to be overlooked, he also remains refreshingly philosophical about the snub.
After all, putting national duty aside, club life could barely be more enjoyable.
“I love it here, I really do, things are going really well and it’s been good news all round,” said Reid, whose club have this week invited former Middlesbrough star and current free agent Bolo Zenden to train with them.
“This is probably the happiest I have been since I joined Sunderland. Sunderland is a good place to be at the moment and I am very happy, but that all stems from results.
“If you’re playing rubbish and getting hammered every week there will be an air of doom and gloom about the place.
“That’s how football clubs work
– results are the be all and end all. We’ve had some good results apart from the Stoke and Burnley games. But for me this is definitely the best Sunderland team I have played in.
