STEVEN Reid will make his long-awaited return to international football on this Wednesday evening when the Republic of Ireland take on Norway in Oslo.

A knock picked up in training on Sunday forced him to miss Monday's training session for Ireland as a precaution, and whilst he was initially named in Giovanni Trappatoni's starting eleven on Tuesday evening, it was decided to wait until Wednesday before confirming his appearance.

The Rovers midfielder hasn't worn the green of Ireland since injuring his back in a Euro qualification match against Germany as far back as September 2006. That injury kept him out for the best part of four months and he was mere days away from a first team return when he sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury in January 2007.

That serious injury kept the 27-year-old out of action until November 2007, but despite being selected for Ireland on a couple of occasions, niggling injuries meant that Reid was never able to join up with the national side.

But after a problem-free pre-season, Reid was impressive in Rovers' 3-2 win over Everton last Saturday and will follow that up with a start for Giovanni Trapattoni's side against Norway on Wednesday, picking up his 21st cap in the process.