Blackburn midfielder Steven Reid will
be sidelined for four months after being diagnosed with a stress
fracture in his lower vertebra.
Reid has been out for six weeks with back pain, which first
troubled him in Ireland's 1-0 loss at Germany in European
Championship qualifying on Sept. 2.
``I'm totally gutted and devastated by all of this because this
is the biggest injury of my career to date. I've never experienced a
problem like this,'' Reid said. ``But at least we now know what the
problem is, and hopefully the stress fracture will now heal and then
fingers crossed I can play again as soon as possible.''
Reid will have to wear a back brace for up to eight weeks.
