Update - Wood and Reid Miss Cup Tie Selection

Neither Chris Wood or Winston Reid featured for their clubs in mid-week Carling Cup ties. Although both managers played reasonably strong sides, you would have expected that the two young kiwis may have earned selection in match day squads. Both are fringe players at best currently and in Wood's case especially, a loan move appears more and more important if he is to get something out of this season.

Ryan Nelsen returned from injury and had a start in his side's 3-1 loss to Aston Villa. Nelsen was substituted in the 66th minute when the score was 1-1.

One that slipped through the cracks over the weekend was Kris Bright's first league appearance for the Shrews. The young forward was a late substitute in a win over Northampton which returned them to the top of League 2. The Shrews forward combination of Jake Robinson and Matt Harrold have been firing so far this season so Bright may have to bide his time behind the club's big names.

Carling Cup Opportunities for Wood, Reid?

Both Chris Wood and Winston Reid may get some first team football this week in the 3rd round of the Carling Cup. Both West Brom and West Ham are likely to rest players with one eye on the weekend's Premier League fixtures, with Reid and Wood potential beneficiaries. Wood has only had one Premier League appearance this year for West Brom (as a substitute against Liverpool) but did play and score in the previous round of the Carling Cup. Meanwhile, Reid is now recovered from his hip injury and played a full Reserve team match at Everton late last week.

West Ham play at Sunderland Wednesday morning (NZ time) and West Brom host Man City 24 hours later.

Reid in Squad to Face Villa

Winston Reid has been handed the number 2 shirt by manager Avram Grant and is in line for selection for tomorrow's match against managerless Aston Villa.

Although he is yet to turn out for the East London club in pre-season, there are murmurs that Reid may start the match, possibly in the unfamiliar right back position (although that would mean displacing Valon Behrami, the Swiss Beckham, who can also play further forward and Julian Faubert). If that did eventuate he would be likely to be facing the pacy Ashley Young, fresh from an England call up on Wednesday. Reid has apparently impressed in the short time he has had in training at West Ham but will have to unseat James Tomkins, Tal Ben-Haim or Manuel Da Costa to partner senior man Matthew Upson in the centre of defence. A place on the bench is probably more likely.

Let's hope for an immediate impact for him and his new club.