Sheffield Eagles are poised to whisk former player Damien Reid straight from a prison cell onto the rugby field.

The 24-year-old centre has been in jail for the last three months after breaking a friend's jaw during a night out and had his contract with Salford cancelled as a result of his misdemeanour.

But he is expected to be released by the weekend and the Eagles are ready to help him resurrect his rugby league career.

Sheffield coach Mark Aston said: "I'm just waiting for a phone call to say he's being released and then we'll sit down with Damien and talk about a contract for the rest of this season.

"Salford have released him and don't want to support him but Damien has told me there's no way he's going back to prison.

"People make mistakes and it's quite easy to walk away from them but I never will do that."

Aston may even consider putting the player straight into his team for Sunday's National League One game at Widnes.

"Damien should been in good shape - he's been in prison but he's been working in the gym," he said.

Reid scored seven tries in 21 appearances for the Eagles last season and earned a full-time contract at Salford but never played for the Reds before being jailed.

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