Steven Reid ready to prove a point

He has been discarded by his country and cast out by his club - now Steven Reid is ready to prove a point.

Albion's permanent summer signing is back with the Baggies, after the Hawthorns loan spell that kick-started his career last season.

The 29-year-old is now on a mission to prove Blackburn and the Republic of Ireland were too quick to write him off.

Reid was a lynchpin for Rovers and a regular for the Irish, before serious knee injuries stopped him in his tracks.

The former Millwall man failed to win back his place at Ewood Park while Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni questioned his ability to ever recover, eventually prompting his retirement from international duty.

But, having been released by Blackburn in the summer, Reid has a career to rebuild and a point to make.

He said: "Maybe there is a little point to prove. But the main thing for me now is that I've got a point to prove to the manager here, that I am fit and available to play every week.

"Last season was the first time in my career that I wasn't getting involved and not looking like I was going to feature and that was a strange feeling.

"Luckily for me I got the chance to move to West Brom and I am delighted that that move happened because I am sat here now.

"I did feel that maybe I didn't quite get the chance to prove I could get back to the level I was at last season and rediscover that form.

"Hopefully I can do that this season and that's ultimately the reason I have signed here, so I can prove to myself and the fans that I can still do it in the Premier League.

"At times last season I was travelling, not getting on the bench or being involved and people were asking why.

"I am aiming to be involved in every game this season and hopefully I can do that and that will go a long way to staying in the Premier League next season."

A desire to prove his worth in England's top division influenced his decision to turn his back on Celtic this summer.

The Scottish giants offered him a route to Glasgow and the chance for a change of direction and taste of Old Firm action.

But, despite admitting he was tempted by the Hoops' advances, Reid could not turn his back on the chance to prove he can still hold his own south of the border.

He said: "I would be lying if I said there wasn't an interest there and I went up there and had a look around.

"With my Ireland connections, there was obviously an affinity with Celtic and it was a big pull.

"But I weighed everything up in the end and looked at the standard of the leagues and signing for Albion was a much better move for everyone, family-wise as well.

"I think promotion with Albion obviously made a difference because you look at the games straight away and you want to play in Old Firm games.

"But this was the right decision, it's the best league in the world and I'm glad I've got at least another year's Premier League football."