Blackburn Rovers midfielder Steven Reid is stunned to have been written off by Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni.

Last week Trapattoni said he believed the Blackburn player would never fully recover from the knee operation he underwent a year ago after he was forced to pull out of last month's final World Cup qualifying games against Italy and Montenegro.

Reid said: "I couldn't really believe what I was hearing. The cartilage isn't gone. It's fine. In fact, the surgery's been a total success. The rehabilitation was always going to take nine or 10 months and I've done everything by the book.

"I've actually played six or seven games in the last two months, four or five with the reserves as well as our Carling Cup matches against Gillingham and Nottingham Forest. And I haven't had a problem with the knee. Unfortunately, I've just had a couple of niggly issues, first with a hamstring, and now this Achilles.

"The comments amazed me. I'm more positive now about my fitness than I've been in a long time. I'd just like the supporters to know I'm feeling great and looking forward to getting back playing in another week or so."