The centre back’s game was cut short in just the 23rd minute when a flailing arm from his own goalkeeper, Jussi Jaaskelainen, struck him as both players tried to win the ball from a defensive free kick.
Medical staff from West Ham were immediately ushered on and a stretcher and back board brought out as a precaution but, to the relief of Hammers’ fans and no doubt All Whites coach Ricki Herbert, Reid was able to get back to his feet before gingerly walking to the sideline in a dazed state.
He was not well enough to continue though and was replaced by James Tomkins as West Ham scored a vital victory over a QPR line-up that again included All Whites skipper Ryan Nelsen.
Reid’s early departure was particularly disappointing for New Zealand fans as the match was the first ever Premier League fixture to involve a Kiwi in each side and it could get even worse for those supporters if Reid is confirmed to have suffered a serious concussion.
Depending on the degree of severity, concussions can take up to two to three weeks to recover from and, if that is the case for Reid, the 24-year-old would miss the All Whites’ trip to Tahiti on October 12 and home clash in Christchurch against the same opposition four days later.
Herbert will be concerned over Reid’s well being as the former Denmark youth international also suffered a head knock in the All Whites’ 3-2 loss to Jamaica in a friendly international at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland last February.
Reid and Nelsen have come close to encountering each other in Premier League action only once before – when Nelsen scored for former club Blackburn Rovers in a 1-1 draw with the Hammers in the 2010-11 season as Reid looked on from the substitutes’ bench.
West Ham’s win lifts the newly-promoted side to seventh in the table while QPR remain rooted to the bottom with just two points from their six matches.

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