Trapattoni insists Reid could come back

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni insists that Andy Reid is still in his thoughts despite being left out of the squad to play Italy and Montenegro in Ireland's final two World Cup qualifiers.

Ireland have been dealt a significant blow by the news Fulham winger Damien Duff is out with a calf injury, while Blackburn's Steven Reid and Manchester United's Darron Gibson have joined on-loan Middlesbrough striker Caleb Folan on the casualty list.

Trapattoni caused raised eyebrows by drafting QPR midfielder Martin Rowlands into the squad rather than turning once again to in-form Andy Reid.

However, he was quick to insist yet again the Sunderland man has not fallen permanently beneath the radar as a result of their infamous spat in Germany.

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 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.

'At the moment, the players are playing well. But, in the future... I don't forget these players. I don't forget also Stephen Ireland. He is important.'

Trapattoni also insisted that he will not fear any team if he is pitched into a play-off battle with a World Cup place at stake.

However, the 70-year-old Italian feels the rules should be changed to allow all nations to compete on an even playing field after FIFA's announcement last week the runners-up showdowns will be seeded.

Ireland, who could yet win Group 8, will secure second place at least if they manage to claim two points from their final two games against leaders and world champions Italy and Montenegro in the next eight days.

But, with the likes of France and Portugal among those countries with bigger reputations struggling to qualify, they are unlikely to be among the seeds.

Trapattoni said: 'We know what sort of team we are, we know which position we are in the ranking.

'But, for me, it is not important because big teams can lose. Now I am sure our team is confident and, in football, anything can happen.

'If Italy lose the last two games, maybe we qualify (automatically). But if we go into the play-offs, we have high morale and we can compete with any team.

'Up until now, in every game we have improved. In the last game against South Africa, we played well and we won. If we play in the play-offs, we will not be afraid of any team.

'For me, it is not important because we can play against good teams - we will see on Saturday against Italy. I am confident against all teams.'

The decision not to have an open draw, however, has not gone down well in Ireland and, for all his confidence that they will give as good as they get if they land a two-leg shoot-out against one of Europe's aristocrats with a trip to South Africa at stake, Trapattoni has called for the rules to be changed.

He said: 'In the future, FIFA and UEFA have to think about changing this rule. Four or five years ago, the big teams - like Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid - wanted to create a super league, but it was dangerous for football and they gave up on it.

'That would have been the death of football. It was football for eight teams and the others are dead. This situation in the future must change, because every country has the right to qualify.

'This draw must be open to give the same opportunity to everybody.'