AFTER an enforced hiatus, Jamie Reid is back in the Northern Ireland squad and hoping to add to his debut goal against Romania in March.
Michael O’Neill’s team play Belarus in Hungary on Saturday night then play host to Bulgaria in Belfast next Tuesday in the UEFA Nations League.
With a win over Luxembourg and a narrow defeat to Bulgaria last month, O’Neill is aiming for two wins this month to boost Northern Ireland’s chances of winning Group C3.
Goals have been at a premium and Northern Ireland fans hailed a new hero in March as the Stevenage forward opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw in Bucharest.
Reid was unable to add to his tally in his three subsequent international outings and missed the start of the season and the two Nations League games due to a blood clot in his leg.
The Torquay-born striker admitted he was playing catch-up but insists he is ready to step up and deliver if called upon by O’Neill in the upcoming games after recovering from the concerning malady.
“I’m feeling good”, said the 30-year-old, who has only featured in six Stevenage games to date this season.
“It’s been tough because I haven’t really had a pre-season or been able to play games to get fit so I’ve been playing League One to get fit.
“Hopefully I think I’m getting up to speed, I’m getting fitter with every game and every training session. I’m nearly there.
“I’m going to say I’m 100%.
“We’ve been on the training pitch now for the last three days.
“It’s obviously more intense because you’ve a shorter time period and you have to try and squeeze information into a couple of days before the game.
“At club level you have maybe a week to prepare for a game and you’re spending every day with each other.
“The group here is very good and I think we take on information really well and I haven’t found it too difficult to be honest.
“I’ve really enjoyed it. We’ve a great staff here and a great group, which has been fairly easy to come into.
“I can’t speak highly enough about them.
“The squad is very young but they have more international experience than me.
“I’ve played a lot of club games for my clubs but I don’t really think I’m giving advice.
“When I’m on the pitch the voices behind me help. They’re a loud group on the pitch. I don’t really come in and give advice as such.
“I just do the best I can, listen to the manager, take that on board and go from there.
“Obviously it’s difficult for me to transition from club football to international football because I’m getting told a different thing at club level.
“You’ve just got to be able to adapt and I think it makes you a better all-round player.”
Reid was named alongside Dion Charles, Josh Magennis and Callum Marshall in the international squad announcement last week.
But, after scoring a hat-trick for Dutch club ADO Den Hag at the weekend, Lee Bonis has been called up and Reid believes competition for places is healthy.
“It’s good. It puts the squad in a better place and we’re all at it and trying to do well. I think that’s good.
“It’s tough to get in, there are some good players here so you have to be on it and the more the better.
“The more competition for places the better, as it gets everyone on their toes.”
Saturday’s game will take place in the ZTE Arena in Zalaegerszeg in Hungary with no fans allowed to attend due to UEFA restrictions on Belarus. Kick off is at 7.45pm.
