Daniel Reed is hoping the doubles will provide him with a treble chance of stepping on to the Commonwealth Games podium.

On his second Games appearance, Reed will of course feature in the team event, in which he will hope to go one better than the silver medal won in Delhi four years ago.

But, without a singles berth, he will be relying on his doubles partnerships with Sam Walker and Kelly Sibley to deliver the potential for more medals.

“The team event for me is a massive goal to go for a gold and that’s why we’re going there, said the 24-year-old from Hutton Rudby on Teesside.

“It’s been an amazing season for everyone and we’re looking to build on Delhi. In Delhi we were not expected to get to the final but we played really well and now it’s nice to have come from a position where we’ve already got a silver medal and we’re looking to build on that.

“The competition is even stronger this time, so to say that we’re even going to get silver will be a challenge anyway, but obviously we’re going for the gold.

“I think we need a good draw but at the end of the day we can beat anyone and we’re just hoping to get to that final and give ourselves a shot at it.

“Personally in the doubles, me and Sam, and me and Kelly in the mixed, are outsiders but we’re in with a shout. I think we’re going to be seeded, which is great, but not expected to do anything, which is a nice position.

“The training camps are the first time we’ve really got the full team together and you start to think about things specifically like doubles.

“Because I’m not playing in the singles, one of my key focuses is doubles, so me and Sam have worked on doubles a lot.”

Reed, who plays for Austrian side Kapfenberg, believes the ‘home from home’ Games in Scotland will also play to England’s advantage.

“It’s my second games, so I’ve had more of an experience of what a games is about – obviously in Delhi you’re in a totally different place,” he said. “It was interesting to see India but it’s nice to be in a home games where there’ll be more people coming to watch, like my parents, which is really nice.

“I think it’ll be more enjoyable, you’ll feel more comfortable and more like you’re at home. The feeling around the village will be a lot more fun as well.

“I think it’ll be fun, it’s what sport is about.”

By Russell Moore (July 16th, 2014)