KYEL Reid settled back in to his return to City and declared: “I knew it was coming.”

The former Valley Parade favourite answered a winger SOS from Phil Parkinson and is set to go straight in at Rochdale this afternoon.

Reid, who has joined from Preston on an initial one-month’s loan, fills the gap left by the season-ending injuries to Filipe Morais and Paul Anderson and the current absence of Josh Morris.

News of his return prompted a huge reaction from fans – but the player himself is not surprised to be back.

He said: “There were a few other clubs who inquired as well but I had a feeling this would come up. About two or three weeks ago I had it in my head that I would probably be coming back here on loan.

“It was just a matter of time and luckily the call came on Thursday. It feels like I’ve never been away.

“It made sense for me to come back here. I wanted the opportunity to go somewhere and get some games under my belt – and I’ve got some great memories and some great history with this club.

“I’m also playing for a manager who knows what I’m about and what to expect from me. This move couldn’t have come at a better time and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Reid has been swamped with good-luck messages and his capture has proved a timely lift at the end of a week which has seen back-to-back defeats.

“On social media the fans haven’t stopped,” he added. “But even when I left, the messages I got were brilliant.

“When I signed for Preston, the chairman said I was the first person he’d seen who’d got so much praise from the fans of the club they were leaving. That tells you a lot about the fan base they are.

“I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye. Even the games we (Preston) did play against Bradford, they were never at Valley Parade where I could see the fans so it wasn’t the same.

“Hopefully now I’ve got that opportunity to put on a performance for them and do well.”

Reid, Parkinson’s first signing for the club, played 110 times but his City career ended suddenly with a torn anterior cruciate ligament at Sheffield United in January 2014.

Ironically Tony McMahon, the defender involved in the challenge which caused the injury, is now on the same team.

Reid said: “We haven’t spoken about the tackle because it’s history. It’s part and parcel of football and he didn’t mean it - he texted me that after the game.

“But I did see him on holiday in the summer. Our family bumped into his in Dubai.

“We spoke then and had a few words but it’s behind us now. We’re team-mates and it’s about us working together and looking ahead.

“I feel fine within myself. Since the injury, I’ve never missed a day of training and I haven’t really lost anything to my game.

“I want to get myself on the score sheet, create some goals and help the boys here do well. It’s a club that will always be close to me and I will look out for.

“They’ve had a bit of a blip but that happens. Teams go up and down.

“Hopefully I could be the new face to come in and get everyone going again.”

Reid has started only once in the Capital One Cup this season but Parkinson has no qualms about playing him straight off.

The City boss said: “He hasn’t played a lot at Preston but Reidy is a fit lad. I signed him before on loan when I was at Charlton and threw him straight in the team.

“He did well then and I’ve no doubt he will do it again.”