BOBBY DAZZLER
Bristol City star Bobby Reid on his successful switch to a striker’s role
IT CAN often take a long time for a player to master a new position but Bristol City’s Bobby Reid has had no such trouble.
Previously a midfielder, Reid has been playing further forward at Ashton Gate this season with excellent results after bagging five goals in seven matches before the international break.
And the 24-year-old has revealed the sky is the limit this season as he looks to fire Bristol City up the table.
“It has been really enjoyable from my part,” he said. “I’ve revelled in playing further forward and getting more chances – thankfully I’ve been putting them away. It’s a great start and I’m hoping it will continue.
Enjoyable
“First of all, the gaffer (Lee Johnson) said to me ‘do you want to try playing up front?’ because I’m looking to bring in a striker but you’re ticking all the boxes.
“I was a bit pessimistic at first but in pre-season and now the goals are coming naturally – I’ve given it a go and it’s worked out.
“I joined at seven and I was a striker until the age of 15 but I then moved to wider positions, centre mid and now back to striker.
“If it works for me and helps the team, then I’m happy to stay there. Why not? It has been really enjoyable.
“I just want to keep that wave going, the confidence is high and that always helps when you’re in front of goal. You feel like you have more chance of scoring.
“I’m quite a sharp player, always making runs behind the defences and trying to be one step ahead. Naturally I’m quicker than defenders and I can get in behind them.”
Reid has a good rapport with Johnson and it goes back a long way.
“He knows me well from when he was a player and I was coming through the ranks,” explained Reid. “I played reserves games with him and trained with him so he knows me well.
“He brought me to Oldham (on loan) when he was in charge there so it’s a really good relationship. I want to do well for the team but also him.
“It’s always nice to get praise and you want to do well for that manager who is putting his faith in you.”
Reid has already received some admiring glances from a number of Premier League clubs due to his flying start to the season but admits he is only focussed on his boyhood club.
Dream
“I love playing here,” he admitted. “It’s every kid’s dream when you start at a club from a young age to make the first team. It’s nice to have carried that on into my third full year in the first team. “We want to be top half of the table and progress from last season. If we can sneak into the play-offs that would be great.” And promotion to the topflight with the Robins? “I want to get Bristol City promoted and if I can help us get there by scoring goals, it would be a great achievement,” he added. “The lads realise we can compete with all the teams in the Championship and once players get back from the international break we’ll really go for it.”