SOCCER:MORE THAN six years after he left the club on the way to what looked like being a glittering career in the English game's top tier, Andy Reid returned to Nottingham Forest hoping, like his recently-appointed manager Steve McClaren and their employers, to rediscover former glories.
Reid had a medical at the City Ground yesterday afternoon and, barring a problem with that, agreement on a two-year deal appeared last night to be something of a formality.
The 28-year-old has struggled to maintain his fitness and perform at a consistently high level almost for the entirety of his time away from the City Ground but he did do well during a loan spell at Sheffield United last season.
McClaren, who has returned to England with something to prove to his many critics despite his success in the Netherlands, clearly believes Reid can contribute something to what looks like being a serious push for promotion over the coming campaign.
Shane Long still looks likely to leave Reading over the coming weeks with sources close to the player confirming several clubs have made enquiries about the striker in recent weeks.
Reading’s reported price tag of nearly €8 million for the player continues to prove something of a deterrent to potential suitors, however, with Sunderland said to be reluctant to meet that figure while Celtic manager Neil Lennon yesterday suggested that the SPL outfit are not in a position to pursue their interest at that level. “You’re talking £7 million and that is out of our remit,” he said.
While Shay Given continues to sit tight in the hope Alex McLeish does indeed pick up the phone and call him before the likes of Ben Foster or Robert Green, Keiren Westwood has expressed the hope that a regular spot in the Sunderland side can help him to pressure the Donegalman at international level.
“Obviously, it’ss very difficult,” he said. “Shay is an amazing goalkeeper and he has dominated the goalkeeping situation for Ireland for many years now but I have been chipping away at it for the last couple of years, and hopefully playing in the Premier League will make it a bit of a challenge for him.”
Whatever about displacing Given, Westwood appears to be in a strong position to take over as Sunderland’s number one and manager Steve Bruce is enthusiastic about the 26-year-old’s arrival at the Stadium of Light.
“Keiren has proven to be an exceptional goalkeeper both in the Championship and at international level,” he said, “and he has certainly been one of the best in this country outside of the Premier League in recent seasons. We are obviously delighted Keiren sees his future here at Sunderland.”
Coventry City boss Andy Thorn, meanwhile, has confirmed Joe Murphy will start as his first-choice goalkeeper for the forthcoming Championship campaign.
Talks were continuing yesterday, meanwhile, in relation to Seán St Ledger’s proposed move from Preston North End to Leicester City with progress slowed slightly by the player’s continued absence on a holiday that was delayed by his involvement with the Irish squad this summer.
