FORMER Blackburn Rovers midfielder Nicky Reid may never have worked with Paul Ince – but he is certain that one League Two club will be rooting for the former Manchester United midfielder to succeed at Ewood Park.

Reid, who made 209 appearances for Rovers betwen 1987 and 1992 before moving to West Bromwich Albion, is currently the physio at Macclesfield Town – the club where Ince cut his managerial teeth.

Reid only joined Macc in January but knows Ince will always be remembered fondly at Moss Rose, having helped to keep them in the Football League during the 2006/07 season before departing for MK Dons.

“I wasn’t here when Paul was here but they still think highly of him,” said Reid, who turned 48 yesterday.

“Some of the staff went on to MK Dons and then to Blackburn with him. He’s fondly spoken of here.

“I think, as with everyone that has been associated with Macclesfield, they want to see him go on and do well.”

Reid’s time at Ewood, which came after an FA Cup Final appearance with Manchester City and a spell in the North American Soccer League with the Seattle Sounders, was punctuated by four appearances in the old Second Division play-offs.

At first those appearances proved unsuccessful under Don Mackay but he later gained promotion to the Premier League with Kenny Dalglish, although he departed for the Hawthorns just three months into that first season in the top flight.

“I enjoyed my time at Blackburn,” he said. “It was probably a world away from what it is like now.

“The ground was very different. It was like a Hovis advert with the old cobbled streets and, dare I say it, the ramshackle stands.

“But it didn’t matter to me, I enjoyed it there.

“I wasn’t at West Brom for long after that but when I was there we got into the Third Division play-offs and managed to win them. They were very similar clubs, who both had a great team spirit.

“I don’t really get the chance to follow Blackburn closely these days but I wish them well, as I do with all my former clubs.

“And both my lads live in Blackburn and are Blackburn fans. They’re forever going on about them!”

After finishing his career with spells at Wycombe and Bury and a player-manager role at Sligo Rovers in Ireland, Reid started studying to become a physiotherapist.

He spent four years as the assistant physio at Burnley before moving on to join the staff at his old club Manchester City.

He has since been chief physio at Bury and Hyde before his move to Macclesfield.

“I’m having a good time at Macclesfield with the manager Keith Alexander,” he said.

“I’ve always been into fitness and keeping fit, and I had a few injuries during my career.

“I enjoy still being in football and being around the team, although I’m not a player and I have to take a check on that sometimes!”