Injury Update on Murts and Kits

Reading captain Graeme Murty could make his comeback for this weekends Premier League game according to Reading physio Jon Fearns.

The right-back that has been proved hard to replace has been missing since limping from the pitch in the 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea.

Since Murty`s injury Reading have failed to pick up any points in what has been their most difficult chapter of the season so far, and with Murty`s boyhood favourite club, Liverpool, coming up a return may be just what the team need.

‘Murts is doing very well and is back in sprint training. He has a chance of playing against Liverpool.’ Fearns commented.

Meanwhile long term injury victim Dave Kitson is making good progress. Kitson has been missing since Reading`s first epic Premiership victory against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season.

Although the hit man`s knee is still very swollen he received his closing set of injections previous Friday and things are looking encouraging for a return.

Fearns remarked on Kitson: ‘He will do some light running and ball work at the end of this week. It’s the most positive we’ve felt since the injury occurred.’
And it won`t be a moment too soon for Reading boss, Steve Coppell, who admits that since Kits` injury departure Reading have been lacking.
“We don`t have Kits`s physical presence at the moment. You look at Kanu, who played terrific for Portsmouth on Saturday. He still has a physical presence and is a target.

Coppell joked: “When you have the big red head of Kits up front then it`s something to aim for and play off. He can hold the ball up probably better than the other forwards. We have missed that for sure.”

Since Kitson has been missing, Reading have only managed a meagre seven goals in their first Premiership campaign – a far way off the ninety-nine scored last year, to which Kits contributed eighteen.

But one person who won`t mind Kitson taking his time with his injury is Shane Long. The teenage striker has benefited from Kitson`s injury, receiving some first team starts in recent games against Arsenal and Portsmouth.

But Coppell believes the challenge may have been premature for the Irish boy wonder: “Without doubt the opportunity for Shane has come too soon. “

In other injury news, John Halls is out following a problem with his achilles. He will be out for a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile Peter Mate remains on the long term list, Mate has been ruled out for the season and had surgery on his cruciate ligament yesterday.

Aaron Brown suffered a setback when he picked up another injury to his knee. The player is looking to be fit in a couple of weeks.

Finally Simon Cox has been working on his fitness and should return to training before the Spurs game in a week.