Buoyant Reid not giving up on Ireland; BUOYANT REID NOT GIVING UP ON IRELAND.

Byline: Steve Brown 

ANDY REID insists his international career is far from over, as he admits to loving life in the "best" Sunderland side he has played in.

The Republic of Ireland have crucial World Cup qualifiers against Italy on Saturday and Montenegro four days later, but Reid has not figured for his country since falling out with coach Giovanni Trapattoni just over a year ago.

The Italian had questioned Reid's form and fitness, leading to reports of a late-night row following the Republic's World Cup qualifying win in Georgia.

The 27-year-old subsequently lost around 10 kilos and has been an instrumental factor in the Black Cats' solid start to the Premier League season.

He had hoped that might lead to the opportunity to add to his 27 caps but, while Reid continues to be overlooked, he also remains refreshingly philosophical about the snub.

After all, putting national duty aside, club life could barely be more enjoyable.

"I love it here, I really do, things are going really well and it's been good news all round," said Reid, whose club have this week invited former Middlesbrough star and current free agent Bolo Zenden to train with them.

"This is probably the happiest I have been since I joined Sunderland. Sunderland is a good place to be at the moment and I am very happy, but that all stems from results.

"If you're playing rubbish and getting hammered every week there will be an air of doom and gloom about the place.

"That's how football clubs work - results are the be all and end all. We've had some good results apart from the Stoke and Burnley games. But for me this is definitely the best Sunderland team I have played in. "But I always felt when I came here that we would progress and progress. We are a lot stronger than we ever have been. Although the squad isn't big, the manager feels he can trust any one of those players to go in and do a job. That's probably a nice feeling for him because I wouldn't imagine that was the case for Sunderland managers before him. "We are a closer-knit group, and having a smaller squad keeps everyone interested. People don't feel that they are seven injuries and a long run in the reserves from being in the first team. Everyone knows they have a chance. If someone doesn't perform or you do well in training then you have a chance. "That is a massive thing because there's nothing worse as a player feeling you have no chance of playing no matter what you do.

" He might well have been talking Trapattoni again. The Italian - who has just extended his contract with the FAI until 2012 - included Blackburn's Steven Reid in his squad to face Italy and Montenegro, despite the fact that the midfielder has played just two games, and those in the Carling Cup, since recovering from a serious knee injury. When he pulled out with an Achilles problem, Trapattoni called up QPR's Martin Rowlands, whose third and last cap came in May 2008. "I have no control over being selected for Ireland - the only thing I can control is to perform for Sunderland," said Reid. "That is the only response open to me.

I can't sit in my house and worry about not getting into the Ireland squad. I don't pick the Ireland squad. "I'm just concentrating on giving everything for Sunderland and hopefully the Ireland manager will notice my performances. As far as I am concerned my Ireland career isn't over. "I love playing for Ireland and if the opportunity came to play I'd be delighted." Steven Reid (Achilles), former Newcastle winger Damien Duff (calf) and Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson (groin) were all withdrawn from the Republic squad last night as the Italian insisted yet again the Sunderland man has not fallen permanently beneath the radar. He said: "I have seen him, I follow Andy Reid - I also follow Lee Carsley, Steven Reid. But, at this moment, we have a good squad of 25, 26, 27 players. "I don't forget the others but, at the moment, the team is playing well and we are achieving results. That is also important. "Against Manchester United, he (Reid) played well - and he played better the game before. "But, at the moment, he is playing wide left. He played against John From Back Page BUOYANT REID NOT GIVING UP ON IRELAND O'Shea and played well. At this time, we have Aiden McGeady, we have Andy Keogh, we have Liam Lawrence - we have others in this position. "But, in the future ... I don't forget these players. I don't forget also Stephen Ireland. He is important." Meanwhile, Lee Cattermole has pulled out of England's Under-21 squad to face Macedonia in an Under- 21 European Championship qualifier at Coventry's Ricoh Arena on Friday. The 21-year-old aggravated a heel injury on Saturday at Manchester United.

CAPTION(S):

NOTABLE ABSENCE Robbie Keane in training as the Republic of Ireland warm up for World Cup quali f i e rs against Italy and Montenegro - but despite several injuries there is still no place in the squad for Andy Reid.