Former Southend United striker says he hopes Boro’s luck will change, starting tonight against Crewe

Craig Reid says he is determined to work hard as he tries to win a place in Stevenage’s first XI after re-joining the club.

The striker left League 2 side Southend United earlier this month by mutual consent, and after spending a couple of weeks training with Boro signed a deal with the club for a second time last week.

Reid was a £90,000 record signing when he joined Stevenage in January 2011 and in 18 months with the club scored seven goals in 33 appearances before being sold to Aldershot Town for a five-figure sum.

Having now returned to the club, he came off the bench in the 1-0 defeat at home to Peterborough United on Saturday and has set his sights on helping Boro stay in League 1, beginning with picking up all three points at home to Crewe Alexandra this evening (Tuesday).

“I’ve been very impressed [since returning to the club], there’s a lot of very talented players here. They like to keep the ball, and that’s going to suit me when I finally get my chance,” Reid said.

“I left Southend at the start of the month and I was invited here to train and everything has gone well and I’m glad to be back.

“I didn’t really feature as much as I’d have liked [at Southend] and their formation as it stands doesn’t really suit me with one up front. There was a lot of competition there; there were five or six centre forwards trying to go for one position.

“The team doesn’t change very often unless there’s an injury or suspension. I didn’t want to carry on sitting on the bench or in the stands, I wanted to get out playing and scoring goals and hopefully now I’m back at Stevenage I can help them secure them League 1 [safety].

“[Graham] hasn’t personally said about getting more game time, he likes everybody to work hard in training to prove that they are worthy of playing on a Saturday and that’s what I’ve got to do.

“I’m here to do that. He knows from the previous experience of being here I do work hard, I try my hardest and I think that’s what he likes and he knows he’s going to get that every time I get on to the pitch.”

Speaking about tonight’s match, Reid added: “The home games are where you hopefully pick up your points and I think the gaffer will do a lot of work with us leading up to the game. I think there’s 100 per cent commitment from the lads, it was just maybe a little bit of a lack in concentration for the goal [on Saturday].

“We had our chances, the luck will turn for us and hopefully it starts [against Crewe].”