West Ham's Reid delays linking up with New Zealand
West Ham defender Winston Reid has delayed flying out to New Zealand for their World Cup qualifier as he awaits results on a back spasm he suffered during the 3-1 defeat against Arsenal last weekend.
Reid was due to fly out at the start of the week and join up with the New Zealand squad who were preparing for their game against Tahiti in Papeete on Saturday. But the 24-year-old is hoping to get the all-clear to travel out on Tuesday and wants to play some part in the double header against Tahiti - with the return game in Christchurch just three days later.
A bad back won't be helped by round-trip air travel to and from New Zealand, so I can understand why West Ham is trying to delay this. They host Southampton on the other side of the international break, and while they'll expect a win, they'll want Reid available against a potentially potent Saints attack. Even one missing Gaston Ramirez.