The Republic of Ireland international returned for his first Premier League game after 16 months on the sidelines in the 2-0 win over Fulham on Sunday. But the 28-year-old, who also played in the 3-1 FA Cup third-round loss to Aston Villa earlier this month and had a short loan spell at QPR late last year, admits that he came close to giving up as his return from a cruciate knee ligament injury was complicated by hamstring, ankle and Achilles problems. Reid said in The Sun: "It has been a tough time and I'd be lying if I said at times during that spell I didn't think of jacking it in." Meanwhile, Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce believes Reid can push on and get better and better - if he can stay free of injury. To aid this process, Allardyce is aiming to re-introduce the midfielder back to action at his own pace. The Blackburn boss told Radio Rovers: "We have to find out whether Steven is ready or not. "He is still going to be a long way off his best, but under the circumstances with all the games that we've got we've got to use the squad. "I thought at Villa in the FA Cup as the game went on he got better and I think now that he's got this one under his belt it will make him feel better. "It is only upwards for Steven if he steers clear of injuries, he'll get better and better, but it is about me picking and choosing the right time to play him, like it was with Kalinic when he first came."
