Blackburn midfielder Steven Reid has stepped up his comeback from more than a year on the sidelines.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder, who has been named in his country's squad for their final European Championship qualifier against Wales on November 17, played a full 90 minutes in Rovers' 3-2 reserve-team defeat to Manchester City as he bids to regain full fitness after serious back and knee injuries.

Middlesbrough defenders Emanuel Pogatetz and Robert Huth also stepped up their comebacks from injury in the reserves' 2-1 loss to Manchester United.

Austrian Pogatetz played 90 minutes in his second run-out since surgery on both knees in the summer, while German centre-back Huth managed an hour at the Riverside.

The 26-year-old old was unable to prevent Rovers surrendering a 2-0 lead, earned through first-half goals from Sergio Peter and Maceo Rigters.

Ben Hutchinson gave Boro a 63rd-minute lead before Febian Brandy and Dong Fangzhuo turned things around in the last 10 minutes, with the hosts having Jonathan Grounds sent off.

TeamTalk / Eurosport