Furious Sam Allardyce launches scathing attack on Ireland manager Trapattoni

Furious Sam Allardyce has told Giovanni Trapattoni to "shut his big mouth" after saying Steven Reid is finished at the top level.

Allardyce is demanding the Republic of Ireland boss makes a personal apology to the Blackburn midfielder for claiming he will never get over his serious knee injury.

The Rovers manager insists Reid, who has played just two games in 13 months, has made a full recovery from his knee surgery and will be back within days from an Achilles niggle.

Allardyce could barely contain his anger at Trapattoni and fumed: "It's disgraceful that a manager of an international side could come out with such drivel and nonsense.

"Steven's had some really hard times trying to overcome his injury. To wake up and see that written in the papers by the manager of his country is particularly disappointing.

"He needs to be brought to task publicly. He should jump on a plane, come over here and apologise - not to me, but to Steven Reid.

"He is outrageous in what he said and he should have kept his big mouth shut. He should have got his facts right before he made that statement. He is totally out of order and completely wrong."

Allardyce claims he could be sued if he had come out with what Trapattoni had said and fears the Italian may have damaged Reid's long-term career.

"If we had a player we were trying to sign and we found something wrong medically, we couldn't say so publicly because we would be liable to be sued," he said.

"Yet he's effectively telling other people that you wouldn't want to touch Steven because of his injuries. He has undermined him when he is trying to win a new contract here and in many ways you could say he has tried to put a stop to his career.

"I've had to pick Steven up. I've spoken to him at length and he has handled himself pretty well. But my feelings are much stronger than Steven's. I could be a lot stronger about it, but you couldn't print it.

"They knew the situation regarding his injuries and this niggling little injury he has has nothing to do with his knee. It's an Achilles problem he picked up.

"He's fit again and he's back playing again now. I certainly see him playing some part in our Carling Cup game against Peterborough on Tuesday as part of his rehabilitation as he tries to get back to his best."

Reid, 28, is unlikely to travel to Stamford Bridge for today's teatime kick-off against Chelsea and Allardyce claims his players must start believing if they are going to end their miserable away form.

Rovers have yet to pick up a point on their travels and he said: "That's our problem away from home - we don't believe we can hang on to a result and that's what we've got to start doing.

"We went 1-0 up at Arsenal through a good set-piece, but didn't believe we could hang on and ended up losing 6-2."

Blackburn: Robinson; Jacobsen, Nelsen, Samba, Givet; Diouf, N'Zonzi, Andrews, Gamst Pedersen; Dunn; Roberts.

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