The Sunderland midfielder was snubbed again Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni on Friday when he named his 25-man squad for this month's two-legged World Cup play-off with France.

Reid has not been selected by his country since clashing with Trapattoni after Ireland's 2-1 win over Georgia in September 2008.

And with his form so good for Sunderland, what is more clear now than ever before is that Trapattoni's decision to overlook the 27-year-old has nothing to do with football, and everything to do with that rift.

Reid has surely never been in better shape in his career, and is playing his best football since joining the Black Cats from Charlton.

But he refuses to let the Ireland issue overshadow his excellent club form.

"It would be pointless letting the Ireland thing affect me and my performances," he said. "It wouldn't do me any favours in the long run.

"I don't pick the squad, I go out on the pitch and perform at the level I am. I can't do any more than I am.

"I just have to prove to my manager here I deserve to be in the Sunderland team.

"As long as I am in the team and do my job then I'm happy with that.

"I can't control anything else outside of that. I can only do the best that I can and give everything I have in every game.

"I can't do anything different, and I'm not going to do anything different."

But Reid is equally clear about his desire to play for Ireland again.

The Dubliner said: "I'm feeling good, I'm feeling confident, and I feel fit. I'm playing some of the best football of my career.

"I'm going to continue what I'm doing, and if I get the call to play for Ireland again, then brilliant. I've said all along that I would love to play for Ireland again.

"If I don't get the call then I have to continue playing well here.

"The club pays my wages, I'm a Sunderland player, and I have to get on with performing."