AN ‘emotional’ Steven Reid was reduced to tears as he brought the curtain down on his football career in Burnley’s 1-0 win at Aston Villa.

Reid was introduced as an 87th-minute substitute for the final game of his career after announcing earlier in the week that he was retiring.

The 34-year-old began his professional career with Millwall in 1998 before spells with Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion.

Reid was capped 23 times by the Republic of Ireland, the country of his father, and moved to Burnley last summer to link up with his former Millwall team-mate Sean Dyche.

He has made only eight appearances this season but admitted that the end of yesterday’s match at Villa Park was a sad moment for him.

“It was very emotional coming off the pitch for the last time,” said Reid.

“It’s been quite a difficult week since the decision was made on Monday.

“But on the whole I have no regrets, no complaints - a 17-year career, 12 of them in the Premier League.”

Reid has also been working as a pundit for some time and is expected to continue that capacity.

Dyche brought Reid to Turf Moor last summer to help mentor some of his younger players – a role he believes the midfielder fulfilled ably despite his lack of minutes on the pitch.

The Clarets boss has paid tribute to his old Millwall team-mate this week, although he did engage in a spot of banter after Reid’s final game.

“I believe he was crying, I have to catch my breath!” Dyche said.

“I’ve already ripped him, told him not to be ridiculous!

“It’s onwards and upwards.”

For Danny Ings it was not the final game of the striker’s career, but the last match of his Burnley career.

Ings marked it with the only goal in a 1-0 win and received a tribute from team-mate Ben Mee.

“It was great for him to get a goal,” Mee said.

“He’s put a lot into the club over the past few seasons. We’ve been lucky to have him and he’s been fantastic for us.

“His improvement since he’s been at the club has just gone on and on.

“Everyone wishes him well. The fans have been really good to him and he’s done a lot for the club as well off the pitch.

“It wasn’t a bad way to end the season. We go into the summer with a nice win.”

Mee thinks he could be watching Ings as an England regular in the future. “I hope so,” said the defender.

“He can if he carries on going the way he is, just keeps scoring the goals and working hard as he’s done while he’s been here.”

Dyche is realistic about the reasons for Ings’ imminent departure at the end of his Turf Moor contract – stemming from a desire to progress as a player and continue to play Premier League football.

“I just think he wants a fresh challenge and a new challenge, and certainly wants to be in the Premier League, but so does everyone,” said the Burnley boss.

“We all want to be in the Premier League, because you want to work at the top level.”