Ingi weeks away from comeback

With the Royals so short of centre backs the last thing they needed to hear was the news that club captain Ivar Ingimarsson is still weeks away from a first team comeback. The defender has been out since March with a hamstring injury and had been expected to be fit for the start of the new season but his comeback has been put on hold.

Ingimarsson has still not returned to full training with the rest of the squad and continues to work closely with the physics as he steps up his recovery. He had been pencilled in to start a behind closed doors friendly with Aldershot on Wednesday but he is still some weeks away from that level.

That leaves us with just two fit centre backs, Matt Mills and Alex Pearce, as we head into the final pre season game on Saturday against Southampton. With Brynjar Gunnison and Andy Griffin the only other options for the position, Brian McDermott may well be knocking on Sir John Madejski`s door before next Saturday.