Ferdinand gets game time

Anton Ferdinand managed to get 30 minutes under his belt for the under 21 side yesterday afternoon.

It was the first game time for the defender in over a year, so will not want to overload him with minutes too quickly. Ferdinand also skippered the side, before he subbed on thirty minutes – it was scheduled for him to get a whole half, but was shortened for reasons unknown.

The Royals side, with just two senior players in Ferdinand and Andersen, managed to beat Oxford 5-2 at Hogwood. On the scoresheet were Liam Kelly, Shane Griffin, Aaron Tshibola and two for Dominic Samuel, whose impressive goal record continues this season.

I’m surprised there is still no place on the bench in the first team for Samuel, but has only just returned from a long-term injury, so may be holding off for now. Fosu is another who get his chance in the coming weeks, after impressing with the under 18s last season.

Reading XI: Andersen, Long, Ferdinand, Cooper, Griffin, Tshibola, L Kelly, Stacey, Fosu, Tanner, Samuel.