And ex-QPR loan Reid staying at WBA
WBA Official Site
Reid delighted to extend loan spell
Posted on: Thu 01 Apr 2010
STEVEN Reid is looking forward to completing the job with Albion after the club today extended his loan until the end of the season.
The versatile Blackburn player has made five starts at right-back since joining the Baggies on an initial month's loan.
And he scored a crucial winner in the 1-0 victory over Coventry just over a week ago to boost the automatic promotion hopes of Roberto Di Matteo's second-placed men.
Rovers have the right to recall Reid, who is out of contract in the summer, at anytime but he is fully focussed on helping Albion clinch a return to the Barclays Premier League over the last six games - and hopefully securing a long-term deal at The Hawthorns.
"I'm delighted with the way it's gone," said the 29-year-old, who feels he is over the injury problems that have hampered him in recent seasons.
"We've had a decent run and I'm delighted to have played so many games.
"The gaffer seems to be happy with how things have gone by keeping me in the team.
"I've played a number of games and we've got good results.
"I think I've played five 90-minutes in 21 days.
"Before that I hadn't played five 90-minutes in the league in well over a year.
"I'm delighted to play that many games and I'll be even more delighted if I play every game between now and the end of the season.
"It's such an important time for the club that it wasn't about coming in and getting fitness, it's about arguably the most important thing in football - getting promoted to the Premier League.
"Physically, I'm feeling good.
"I've checked my fitness stats with the ProZone lads and my distances and physical output is higher than ever.
"I couldn't be happier with that and I hope it continues."
The Republic of Ireland international insists he feels at home in the Baggies dressing room.
And, as one of the elder statesmen in the squad, he believes his experience can only be of benefit in the closing weeks of the season.
"There is still plenty of work to be done," he added.
"We've just got to worry about what we've got to do.
"We need to pick up the points we need as soon as possible.
"We can't worry what the teams around us are doing.
"We need to concentrate on our jobs and, if we do that, we'll be fine.
"I'm just delighted to be at a club that is pushing for promotion.
"I didn't know many of the lads when I arrived.
"I knew Deano and Ben Watson.
"But all the lads have been brilliant.
"It's a young bunch of lads, which keeps me a bit younger, as I'm getting on!
"It's a great set of lads and staff, and it's a well-run club, a Premier League club currently in the Championship.
"It feels like I've been here longer than a month.
"I've tried to get to know everyone and I feel I've fitted in pretty well.
"Maybe a more senior member of the squad is something the team needed.
"My future's a bit uncertain.
"I've put that to the back of mind over the last few months while I've tried to get back to fitness - and I'm not letting it worry me.
"First and foremost I'm looking to the next game and the next 90 minutes.
"If I do well it would be nice, contract-wise, if something could be there.
"That's down to how I do and how the head coach and club see it.
"If I keep performing well and that leads to a longer stay at the club then I will be delighted - and it will mean I've done well for the club."
Meanwhile, Di Matteo has revealed Albion are still monitoring free agent Calum Davenport with a view to possibly offering him the chance to train with the club when he is fit.
"The situation is still the same," said the Hawthorns boss.
"He's still not in a position to be able to train.
"We're waiting for him to get in a better position and maybe come in.
"He was around the place last week but he's not this week.
"We are in touch.
"It's a possibility to look at him, see how he is, and for him to get some training as well."
www.wba.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~2011394,00.html