Reid sets sights on World Cup spot

27 March 2009 14:48
In September the 28-year-old was ruled out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament problem but after surgery he is now well on the road to recovery.[LNB]The Republic of Ireland star played at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea and hopes his international team-mates can keep the dream alive in this campaign long enough for him to rejoin the fight to secure qualification.[LNB]Giovanni Trapattoni's side face Bulgaria and Italy over the next few days and Reid is naturally eager for them to do well.[LNB]"He (Trapattoni) has let me know I have a big part to play in the squad," said Reid. "There are two important games coming up and there is no reason why we can't qualify for the World Cup in 2010.[LNB]"I have been lucky enough playing in a World Cup six years ago in Japan and hopefully we can get there again next year and I can play a big part.[LNB]"There are a couple of things to aim for and that has been a huge factor in helping me through some pretty tough moments.[LNB]"I just have to make sure I get the knee back to how it should be and then hopefully Premier League football next year, and a World Cup would just cap it all off."[LNB]Reid has missed virtually two full seasons in the last three years as a stress fracture of the back and a cruciate knee ligament kept him out of most of the 2006/07 campaign.[LNB]But after a successful operation in America on his troublesome knee the combative midfielder is looking forward to returning at the start of next season.[LNB]"It is going well. I am four months in now and two weeks ago I went back over to see the surgeon and he is happy with it and it looks in good shape," he told the Lancashire Telegraph.[LNB]"I just have to build it up a little bit and I am still on target for pre-season.[LNB]"My latest meeting with the surgeon was a boost, a little bit of light again, and hopefully there are a few more days like that to come."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk