The Blackburn midfielder Steven Reid has suffered yet another major injury setback after it emerged that he will miss the rest of the season with a knee problem. Rovers' manager Paul Ince revealed the Republic of Ireland international will need surgery on his knee and is expected to be out for six or seven months.

"Reidy will be out long term," said Ince. "He's had this problem with his knee, he's been training, he's trained well, but his knee keeps swelling. He's been on a course of tablets to try to reduce the swelling, the doc has tried everything to get it right but the situation seems to be popping up all the time. It is a massive blow."

Reid, who missed nearly all the 2006-07 season with knee and back problems, will now travel to America for surgery with Dr Richard Steadman.