Reid sidelined by fractured back

The 25-year-old has not played since injuring his back in the Republic of Ireland's defeat to Germany at the start of September.

Reid, who said he was "totally gutted" by the diagnosis, will now not return until at least the middle of February.

The ex-Millwall player, who joined Blackburn in 2003, will be fitted with a back brace later this week.

"The last few weeks have been really frustrating," said Reid, who went to see a chiropractor in an effort to cure the problem.

"I've been pulled and twisted all over the place in recent weeks in the hope of sorting out the injury.

"But then last week I had another scan and it showed up a stress fracture which now means I face six to eight weeks of total rest followed weeks six to eight weeks of getting my fitness back.

"I'm totally gutted and devastated by all of this because this is the biggest injury of my career to date.

"But at least we now know what the problem is, and hopefully the stress fracture will now heal and then fingers crossed I can play again as soon as possible."

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