Increasingly important defender Paul Reid continues to shoot up Colchester United`s pecking order – despite being injured.
What`s more, U`s boss Aidy Boorthroyd – who appeared to choose Reid over Pat Baldwin when both he and the now ex-skipper were vying for first-team football after both suffering injury in autumn – has told the EADT he expects the solid centre-back to feature again between now and May – if fit in time.
Reid, 28, and formally Barnsley skipper, has suffered multiple injuries which have limited his usefulness this term but, despite that, Boothroyd remains convinced enough of his quality to suggest he might make a first-team comeback before the summertime hiatus. His words suggest that, when ready, Reid could displace frequently appearing pair Danny Batth and Matt Heath, once able.
“Paul`s done very well for us when he`s played and the last thing I want is for him to think his season is over. I don`t want him to be thinking about getting ready for next season just yet,” Boothroyd told the press this weekend.
Although the usually dependable U`s man looked assured during his brief 11-match stay in the Colchester side this season, the penultimate time he pulled on club colours was during January’s infamous 7-0 drubbing of Preston in the F.A. Cup.
Reid`s absence has meant limited playing time with probably long-term partner, Magnus Okuonghae and hints at a lack of consistency as bemoaned by the manager, who added: “I would like to name an unchanged every week if I could, I think I`ve only been able to name the same team for six games in row once this season and we took 15 points from an available 18 so that shows you something.”
The U`s kept five of the thirteen clean-sheets for this season when Reid featured for Colchester.
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Reid is a big, big player for U’s! When he’s in the team if he’s partnering someone like Magnus or Batth then they’ll play better having an experienced centre-half alongside them. If he’d have been playing regularly over the past month or so then I think we’d be a lot higher up in the league…
Possibly, but anyway is a good player!