Reid in line for speedy return
ALL Whites captain Winston Reid may be called on to play again just four days after the loss to Peru in Lima.
Reid returned to London the day after the 2-0 defeat in the Fifa World Cup qualifying tie to re-join English Premier League club West Ham United ahead of new manager David Moyes’ first match in charge, against Watford at Vicarage Road tomorrow morning (5am, NZ time).
West Ham’s defensive stocks appeared short without Reid in the mix and Moyes admitted yesterday he may be forced to play the 29-year-old New Zealander, against his wishes.
‘‘Winston Reid will be the last one back today and in a perfect world we maybe wouldn’t use him on Sunday,’’ Moyes said. ‘‘We’re a bit short in central defence so we’ll see how he is.’’
West Ham defenders Jose´ Fonte, James Collins, Sam Byram and Michail Antonio were all expected to be unavailable through injury.
Moyes was under pressure to spark an improvement at the Hammers who are sitting in 18th place in the EPL after now departed manager Slaven Bilic failed to deliver in the early stages of the season.
Moyes, who spent 11 years in charge of Everton before unsuccessful spells at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland, was named West Ham boss last week after the club sacked Bilic.
West Ham have dropped into the relegation zone with nine points after two wins, three draws and six defeats, and Moyes said his first task was to get three points in what will be his 500th EPL game as manager.
‘‘I could talk about the old days or I could talk about the future,’’ Moyes said on Friday.
‘‘I could talk about winning manager of the year three times in a row, I could talk about getting the biggest job in the world or I could talk about being one of the only British managers who has ever had a job in Spain.
‘‘Now it’s time to talk about what’s coming next. And I’ve got Watford. I’ve got to try and get a team ready and prepared, who can put on a show and get us a result.’’