Billy Davies: 'Andy Reid can lead our Premier League push'

Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies has challenged captain Andy Reid to lead the club's promotion into the Premier League this season.

The Irishman penned a new two-and-a-half-year deal at the City Ground before the 5-0 victory over West Ham United this afternoon, with the 31-year-old marking the occasion by adding the last of the five-goal haul in the closing stages.

Forest currently sit within the playoff places in the Championship table, seven points adrift of the top two, and Davies admits that he expects the midfielder to be the driving force in aiding the club's passage into the top flight.

Speaking after the demolition of Sam Allardyce's men, he told reporters: "We have just agreed a new contract.

"I'm delighted to have Reidy here, he's influential and he's club captain. I've told him to lead this team to the Premier League."

Davies's men resume their league commitments with a visit to Bolton Wanderers next weekend.