Soccer: West Brom defender played with broken leg

Steven Reid has a strong case for being known as West Brom's hard man after it was revealed that he played 45 minutes of the club's 2-0 loss to Arsenal last month with a broken leg. Photo / AP

Steven Reid has a strong case for being known as West Bromwich Albion's hard man after it was revealed that he played 45 minutes of the club's 2-0 loss to Arsenal last month with a broken leg.

Reid made his comeback in the Baggies' midweek FA Cup tie against QPR, which they lost 1-0, and manager Steve Clarke has hailed the defender's character after his return.

"We didn't release the injury but it was a fractured fibula he got against Arsenal," Reid told the Daily Mail.

'He played for 45 minutes with a broken leg, which shows the character of the boy.

'I've put it out there because I want people to see the character of the boy.

Clarke believes his right-back has a reputation for picking up injuries and kept the full details of Reid's injury from the press while he recovered.

But the 31-year-old's return prompted him to reveal what really happened in order to underline his player's mental strength and commitment to the club's cause.

Reid finds himself back in a squad which is without a win in 2013 but still lies seventh in the Premier League table.

-nzherald.co.nz