BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes intends to pull Steven Reid out of Republic of Ireland duty after the midfielder was handed a shock call-up yesterday.

The Republic's caretaker manager, Don Givens, surprisingly included Reid in his 22-man squad for the Group D European Championship qualifier with Wales in Cardiff on November 17 - even though the 26-year-old has yet to make a first-team return following 14 months out with knee and back injuries.

Hughes insists Reid is still not ready to make a full competitive comeback, even though he watched the former Millwall man complete 90 minutes for Rovers' Reserves at Manchester City last night.

And the Rovers chief plans to make his feelings known during a conversation with the Football Association of Ireland today.

"There's no way Steven can play because he's just not ready yet," said Hughes.

"The guy has been out for 14 months with two different injuries and he has yet to play a first team game for us, so there's no way he can play for his country."

Although Reid stepped up his comeback with another useful workout last night, Hughes believes the midfielder still needs another couple of games before he can be considered for a first team return.

"I don't want to set Steven specific targets because if he doesn't hit them, it seems like a set-back," said Hughes.

"He's making good progress and you can see that he's getting stronger with every game he plays, but he probably needs another couple of matches yet before we can start thinking about throwing him back in.

"You can't rush people back when they've been out for as long as Steven has."

Reid admitted he was genuinely shocked to learn of his call-up yesterday, 14 months after he last played for the Republic in the opening game of their qualifying campaign against Germany.

"I was a bit surprised, to be honest," he said.

"I've not heard from Don at all so it was a big surprise, but a nice surprise.

"Whether I'm up to European qualifying shape at the minute, I don't know.

"But I was delighted to be in it all the same, and it's things like that that make you start to feel you are getting back."

As for last night's run-out against City, Reid added: "I'm just happy to get another 90 under my belt. I started to tire in the last 15 minutes or so.

"But hopefully I can get a couple more games in before the gaffer looks to get me back involved with the squad.

"I know it's a cliché but it's literally a case of taking every game as it comes.

"But I'm just delighted to be training and playing in every game that comes along at the minute.

"I feel in decent shape. I was a little bit sloppy at times (last night) and gave the ball away a bit, but I'm sure that will come once I've got a few more games under my belt."