Source: Daily_Mail
Kevin Kilbane believes Sunderland's Andy Reid has the potential to return to the international fold
Ireland's 100-cap midfielder Kevin Kilbane thinks outcast Andy Reid can make a shock return to the national squad - despite being frozen out by manager Giovanni Trappatoni.
The Irish face France in a two-legged World Cup qualifying play-off next month, with a Sunderland midfielder Reid's controversial exclusion threatening to overshadow preparations.
Kilbane told Sportsmail: ‘Everybody keeps mentioning it. I know Andy Reid very well. I know how good a player he is. But, if you talk about Andy Reid being out of the squad, then you can probably talk about another 10 other players who maybe deserve the chance to be in the squad as well.
'I think it’s more high-profile because Andy is playing so well. I think that if he continues to show how good he is at Sunderland then he’ll be given a chance again.’
Well earned: Another cap for Kilbane in the recent game against Montenegro
Well earned: Another cap for Kilbane in the recent game against Montenegro
Kilbane suffered agonising play-off defeats ahead of France 98 and Euro 2000, and does not want a repeat – particularly because of the criticism that Ireland have received recently.
‘Throughout this qualifying campaign, there have always been knives out to get us without really being justified at times,’ said Kilbane. ‘Over in Ireland, they are always looking to try to get us and get that needle into us at any opportunity really.’
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France was the draw that Kilbane did not want.
And former France coach Gerard Houllier admitted that it was the one pairing that neither side wanted.
Kilbane added: ‘France are the side that you would fear because of the strength that they have got throughout the team. But I think we have proven against Italy, that we can give them more than a run for their money. At home against Italy, we should have won and we should have beat them in Bari to be honest. So, over a two-game period against the world champions, we should have come out on top so there’s nothing to fear.
‘Not one of the players would be singing off the rooftops or shouting but we know we have done well and we are quietly confident that we can beat anybody.
‘I would take a 0-0 draw away from home and a 1-0 win (at home). Or vice versa as long as we go through!’
Determined: Andy Reid's recent performances could earn him a recall
Determined: Andy Reid's recent performances could earn him a recall
The 32-year-old Hull midfielder does have one fond play-off memory – qualifying for 2002 by defeating Iran – and that will inspire him.
Discussing previous play-offs, he said: ‘I was involved in the Belgium one for France 98. I was on the bench and I didn’t come on that night so I was really disappointed. I played in the two games against Turkey when we didn’t lose either match but we went out on away goals, which was a real disappointment because we felt we might have nicked it against Turkey.
‘But Iran was very special. That’s when we felt we had really come of age. Now, with a lot of new players in the squad, there are only probably four or five of us that have actually played in the World Cup. These new players want to sample World Cup football and we are certainly on the verge of it. We just need to see it though now.
‘We are all aware of our history in play-offs. As players we have all lost big games in the past. You want to try to change them and reverse the scorelines. But we’ve got a lot of players that are really fresh and hungry and I think that will ultimately see us through.
‘The big success was the Iran game before the World Cup in 2002 and I’d love to have something similar to that but we know it’s difficult for us with the way that FIFA have seeded the draw. But we have to move on from that.’
