THE REPUBLIC of Ireland's next World Cup qualifier may be nearly four months away but potential problems have already started to mount for manager Giovanni Trapattoni with the news that Steven Reid faces six to seven months on the sidelines.
The Blackburn midfielder will travel to the USA within weeks to visit the noted specialist Dr Richard Steadman about his ongoing knee injury. If, as expected, surgery is required Reid's season is over.
Reid, ruled out of Ireland's win over Cyprus in midweek with the injury, had been training with Blackburn but persistent swelling of the knee has stymied progress.
"Reid will be out long-term," the Blackburn manager, Paul Ince, revealed. "He's had this problem with his knee, he's been training, he's trained well, but his knee keeps swelling. He has to go to see Dr Steadman to get his knee sorted out and it is going to be six or seven months. It is a massive blow as he's an integral part of my side."
The implications are just as big for Trapattoni, with Georgia and Bulgaria due to visit Croke Park early next year and the small matter of the trip to take on world champions Italy to follow in April.
Indeed, as it stands Reid must also be considered doubtful for the return match against Bulgaria in June. It wasn't until Trapattoni touched down back in Milan yesterday afternoon that the news filtered through and the Italian expressed his wish that Reid could yet avoid going under the knife.
"I am aware of this type of injury and players can recover through a therapy process in the hands of specialists," he said in a statement. "I hope Steven can make a full recovery and I wish him well."
The 27-year-old had only recently returned to the international set-up following a lengthy lay-off and swiftly established himself as a key man in Trapattoni's plans. With Reid now out of the picture, it is a guessing game as to where Trapattoni turns. He opted for Manchester United's Darron Gibson over Liam Miller in Reid's absence against Cyprus but the youngster's first senior start for Ireland proved a steep learning curve.
Keith Andrews is another possibility after Trapattoni indicated the Blackburn newcomer would make his first senior appearance against Poland next month. But whether the 28-year-old former MK Dons skipper is capable of making the grade as an international is open to debate. Having made just two appearances for Rovers in the Premier League, both as a substitute, since following Ince to Blackburn, Andrews is also starved of first-team experience.
Lee Carsley, overlooked thus far under the new regime, yesterday signalled he is ready and willing but there remains a feeling that the Birmingham man's face doesn't fit.
Another possible, Stephen Ireland, has shown little inclination to end his self-imposed exile, though one suspects the Irish management will be watching this r space closely over the coming months. Which leaves a certain Andy Reid. Yet to play a single minute for Trapattoni, Reid may be a square peg in a round hole when it comes to the new man's system but could yet profit from his namesake's misfortune.
