Steve Coppell expects to have right midfielder, Glen Little available for selection for tomorrows evening fixture against Newcastle Utd.
The winger missed out on Saturday`s home victory over Bolton due to a hamstring injury, but Steve Coppell believes his wingman will be ready for the Royals and Magpies first Premier League meeting:
“Glen`s trained this morning and I think he`ll be all right.”
The Reading boss went on to explain that Little will probably miss out to John Oster who impressed on his Royals Premier League debut on Saturday:
“I haven`t decided the team yet, more then likely John will play but I`ll make a decision overnight.
“He`s a good player and we trust him in possession, the higher you go the more you need that.”
However it is more then likely that Coppell will stick with the side that beat Bolton, meaning Seol Ki-Hyeon will be looking to maintain his place upfront alongside Kevin Doyle, though Leroy Lita`s recent impressive substitution appearances could see him given the nod for his first Premiership start since Chelsea back in October.
Meanwhile Stephen Hunt will continue to play for Reading despite having cracked two of his ribs in the Ireland B friendly last month.
The left-winger has been enjoying featuring week-in, week-out for Reading while American winger Bobby Convey has been injured.
And you wouldn`t tell that the Irish midfielder has been in pain, since breaking into the first team, Hunt has enjoyed a fair bit of good form in recent games, it was his back-heel that set up Nicky Shorey`s cross resulting in Reading`s first goal a few weeks ago.
“The adrenalin and excitement of playing in the Premiership helps you through it.” Hunt said.
Reading will of course be missing, Peter Mate (knee), Aaron Brown (ankle), Dave Kitson (hamstring) and Bobby Convey (knee), the latter two being a few weeks away from fitness.
Meanwhile, Shane Long is most likely to lose his place on the bench after Glen Little`s return to the squad. Sam Sodje will also be pushing for a place in the starting 16 meaning both Andre Bikey and Brynjar Gunnarsson could potentially be left out.
Tomorrow nights fixture will be Reading`s 2nd of 3 matches in eight days. Bolton was of course the first and the third will be next Saturday when Reading face fellow promoted team, Watford at Vicarage Road.
Coppell doesn`t believe that the increase in games at this time of the season will affect his boys however:
“We`re used to doing this from the Championship. There are always midweek games in that division, so hopefully we`re not out of the old routine.”
And with Reading set for third place if they secure a fifth consecutive win at St James`s Park, Coppell quick to play down the hype surrounding Reading and a European place:
“A week is a long time in the Premiership and if we lose the next two games then I don’t think anybody will be talking about Europe next week.
‘Every week we have got to try to prove ourselves as being capable of competing in this league. That is our challenge.
‘It is a 38-game challenge and at the moment we are trying to do the best we can with the resources we have.”
And Coppell`s cautious down to earth attitude is exactly what Reading need right now, while they are the media`s latest hype team, the squad will do good to follow Coppell`s advice rather then believe their own press. Many have already written Newcastle, the northern team are in the relegation zone and have an injury list with more numbers on it then Michale Ballack`s weekly wage.
But their recent form would suggest otherwise, Newcastle are unbeaten in their last six fixtures, the most recent a 0-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Cup last week. Prior to that they held drew with both Watford and Man City, held Arsenal at the Emirate 1-1 (surprise, surprise.) and beat Celta Vigo 2-1.
However, Reading can take comfort in the fact that their last loss was at home to Sheff Utd – another newly promoted team.
Newcastles injury list is as follows:
Michael Owen, Steve Harper, Damien Duff, Craig Moore, Shola Ameobi, Olivier Bernard, Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble.
Glen Roeder will be happy at least that Stephen Carr is likely to start news that will also please his makeshift replacement, Nolberto Solano. And despite all their injury worries Newcastle still have four strikers to pick from in, on-loan Guisseppe Rossi, Antoine Sibierski, Alberto Luque and Obafemi Martins.
Meanwhile Shay Given will, no doubt, make his 300th top flight appearance, and Sibierski`s starting would make that his 100th in the Premiership.
Newcastle Team News:
Newcastle (from): Given, Srnicek, Carr, Solano, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Babayaro, Butt, Emre, N’Zogbia, Milner, Pattison, Troisi, Gate, Edgar, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Rossi, Carroll.
Player to watch: Nicky Butt
As far as Newcastle is concerned I think Nicky Butt will be crucial in midfield for Magpies. He and Steve Sidwell will clash in the centre of the pitch in a red head stand off.
Reading Team News:
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Oster, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Seol, Doyle, Lita, Bikey, Gunnarsson, de la Cruz, Little, Long.
Player to watch: Kevin Doyle
As always its got to be Kevin Doyle for goals, but expect John Oster to turn it up after his great performance on Saturday. Nicky Shorey will also be a performer as will Steve Sidwell.
Match Facts & Stats
– Only Man Utd and Chelsea have won more games in the Premiership then Reading so far this season.
– A Newcatle win will see the club tie up its first Premiership back to back victories.
– This is the first EVER League clash between the two clubs.
– Anything but a lose will hand Reading their fifth consecutive Premiership game unbeaten and rocket the Royals into 3rd place. Ironically, either result will see Newcastle in the parallel position at the bottom of the league. However, the Magpies could reach 15th with a win 6 places from bottom, such a result would leave Reading 6 places fom top, spooky…
Ref Watch:
Rob Styles will be the man in the middle. The illustrious referee has already dished issued six red cards and 62 yellows in his 15 games so far this season.
Mr Styles took the reins in Reading`s 3-1 win over Spurs, and was in charge of Newcastle`s 2-0 victory over West Ham earlier in the season.
Match Prediction:
This is getting to be a habit, a narrow goal win from Reading is what my money is on?
