Far from wallowing in self pity, Ireland’s forgotten man Andy Reid is determined to keep his head down and win back his place in the Republic of Ireland set-up.
Reid has not been called upon by Giovanni Trapattoni in over a year, with QPR’s Martin Rowlands the latest to move ahead of the midfielder in the pecking order.
A new, slim-line Reid has been in the form of his life at Sunderland this season and might have hoped to force his way back into the reckoning.
Calls for his inclusion, however, continue to fall on deaf ears. Nevertheless, Reid is prepared to bide his time.
“I have no control over being selected for Ireland – the only thing I can control is to perform for Sunderland,” Reid expalined.
“That is the only response open to me. I can’t sit in my house and worry about not getting into the Ireland squad. I don’t pick the Ireland squad.
“I’m just concentrating on giving everything for Sunderland and hopefully the Ireland manager will notice my performances. As far as I am concerned my Ireland career isn’t over. I love playing for Ireland and if the opportunity came to play I’d be delighted.”
