Reading Starting XI - 07/08

[Fantasist]

Lots of rumblings about Lita not endearing himself to the management recently and even a few unconfirmed reports that he's been a naughty boy again.

Can't see him ousting Doyle or Kitson (or even Long on the bench) for a while unless injury/loss of form dictates.

Oster has also failed to recover properly from his injury and is now likely to have an op ruling him out for at least another month, and Little is nowhere near a return.

Duberry is returning to fitness but probably not ready this weekend. Convey made his first start last weekend and Cisse was back in the squad.

In summary: move along please, nothing positive to see here!

[snout]

The official site:

Steve Coppell says young defender Alex Pearce is close to the first team. The Royals have Ibrahima Sonko and Andre Bikey away on Cup Of Nations duty, and with Michael Duberry a doubt through injury, 19-year-old Pearce will be in the squad for Saturday's game at Aston Villa. He has made two substitute appearances for the Royals this season, both in cup competitions, and he could now be involved for the first time in the Barclays Premier League.

Coppell said, "Pearcey is very close. Sooner or later we have to make a call on him and this may well be his time." Pearce is back from a loan spell at Bournemouth, and he showed a good consistency in his eleven games for the Dean Court club. Steve said, "He has a consistency in training. The game situations at other clubs are valuable, but for me I watch them every single day in training. I just like to see certain things, I like to see a mentality. "Alex will have a long career."

Steve continued, "I am not giving up hope on Doobs [sic ] for the weekend. Until I'm told otherwise then I consider him to be in the line-up. He hasn't trained yet, he's 50/50. If he comes through, he will play, but Pearcey is one of the options. Bryn has played there, Cisse has done it. "I really don't know my team yet. I usually find that a quiet hour watching Bonanza or something will make my mind up for me." [ ]

Like Sonko and Bikey, Emerse Fae is away on international duty. New signing Marek Matejovsky will not be included as he has not played for a month.

[snout]

The Reading official site:

Dave Kitson could miss this Saturday's game with Manchester United because of a knee problem. The striker picked up a heavy knock in last weekend's game with Aston Villa, and although he was able to play on, he has not trained properly this week. Kitson will also not get the chance to train fully today because of a court date.

Steve Coppell will speak to Kitson about the effects of missing training, telling Reading World on Thursday, "I don't think it will affect him. I will chat with him about it. What happens with the courtcase, it can affect you in different ways. Some get upset but I think he's strong enough to come through it. He also has a knee problem, there's some swelling on there. He trained today, but he was well within himself and we'll have to see how that reacts. I think that's potentially more of a problem than the driving issue."

Michael Duberry is still out because of fluid on the knee. John Oster is back in training, but it is too early for him to play. Marek Matejovsky looks unlikely to be involved as he settles into training. He has not played since 9th December so needs a little more time.

Alan Bennett is back after a loan spell at Southampton, while Simon Cox will hope to take a place in the 16 after a good display against Spurs in midweek. Shane Long plays his last game before a one-match ban. Emerse Fae, Andre Bikey and Ibrahima Sonko are away on African Cup Of Nations duty. Aaron Brown and Glen Little are injured.

[snout]

The official site team news:

The Royals look set to name an unchanged team for Saturday's game at home to Manchester City. Following last weekend's vitally important 1-0 victory away to Middlesbrough, Steve Coppell will almost certainly stick with the same XI that earned our first result in 2008, and our first away win of this season.

Michael Duberry is back in contention after two months out with a knee problem, and could take a place on the bench. A knee injury means Graeme Murty remains sidelined though, and will not be involved. Both Glen Little and Brynjar Gunnarsson are making good progress after Achilles and groin injuries respectively, but are still a few weeks away. Emerse Fae is ruled out after a bout of malaria.

Physio Jon Fearn told readingfc.co.uk, "Everyone is doing quite well on the injury front. Bryn will do light training on Friday, and if he gets through that with no reaction we can look at him coming to Spain with us on Sunday for our training camp. Glen is going to get some involvement in training on Friday as well, and we'll gradually ease him into things. He still has some fitness issues, and he's coming out to Spain for that purpose. He needs some intensity training, and before he can be considered for any kind of match he needs a full week of solid training. There are reserve games toward the end of this month that he could make, but things can change.

"Fae is practically back to normal now. He's improved over the week after a slight relapse on Sunday. He's been thoroughly investigated, and is on the way to recovery. He's done light training back in the gym, and he'll increase that. Murts is slowly improving. There's some bruising on his kneecap, the patella, and it's going to take a while to settle down. He had a scan in the week and I certainly don't envisage it to be too long. Finally there's Doobs [!! - ed] who is doing great, he played very well for the reserves on Monday with no reaction at all."

Also, there's this from a Q&A session with Steve Coppell, again on the official site:

You made changes last week, will people be retaining places?
I have been crying out for a winning combination and we got a win last week. I could make another four or five changes, the four or five changes every week could be the secret formula! No seriously it is unlikely I will make changes.

Will you go with Shane again?
I don't think I'll make a change this weekend but time will tell, it is a result decision. If we get the right result the team picks itself, the wrong results will mean more changes.

[snout]

The official site:

Glen Little is making good progress as he returns from long term injury, and if all goes well he could feature for our reserves in ten days' time. The winger was out in Spain this past week for the squad's training camp, and he is stepping up his workload. Boss Steve Coppell is cautiously optimistic about Glen's chances of getting some game time, and there is a chance he could soon turn out for our second string. This coming Tuesday's reserve game with West Ham will come too soon, but he may face Fulham seven days later.

Coppell said, "He came out to Spain and worked very hard with us. There's a small concern over his hamstring but we're being overcautious, really. The achilles is strong, it's good, but he's not played in a year now. We've had to work him hard to get him physically up to speed. He's been doing more running than football work, really. That will make sure that when he has to take the load in terms of football, his body will be ready. The last thing we want is a secondary injury, but like I say we're being overcautious and he could play for the reserves soon."

Brynjar Gunnarsson this week had an operation on his groin and will be out for around four weeks. Graeme Murty should be a week or so, and Emerse Fae is recovering well from illness.

[snout]

The official site:

Steve [Coppell] has hinted he could make changes to his team, with Dave Kitson, Jimmy Kebe and Kalifa Cisse among those in contention to come into the starting XI.

Graeme Murty is still out, while Glen Little has had a slight setback on his return from an Achilles problem, picking up a minor hamstring strain that will keep him out of training until next week. Brynjar Gunnarsson remains sidelined.

[snout]

The official site:

[Steve] Coppell is set to hand Kalifa Cisse a role in the centre of midfield, replacing the banned Marek Matejovsky. Jimmy Kebe is injured, while Glen Little could come in if Coppell deems him fit enough. Emerse Fae is also on standby for a recall to the squad, while Graeme Murty is also hoping to be involved for the first time in more than a month.

[snout]

The official site:

Steve [Coppell] has Marek Matejovsky back in his squad for tonight's game, but Jimmy Kebe and Brynjar Gunnarsson are injured. Glen Little could be on the bench.

[snout]

The official site:

Steve Coppell says that Glen Little could start Saturday's game away to Arsenal, kick off 12:45pm. Glen came on as a substitute against Fulham last weekend, and completed a full 90 minutes for the reserves in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Tuesday. The winger has been working hard to get back into the first team picture, and Steve could throw him in at the deep end at the Emirates.

Steve told Reading World, "He's got a good chance of starting. He's been working hard to get back match fit, and got a full 90 minutes under his belt this week.Maybe the time is right for him to play from the first whistle."

[snout]

The official site:

Leroy [Lita] is back, how is he?
He is looking sharp and committed in training. His weeks away have recharged him and he's had a change of scenery. He has the bit between his teeth, definitely.

Will he start?
I wouldn't like to say. I know what my team is going to be and there will again be significant changes. Before the Arsenal game I said we had four games to go and each one was a different demand that would require a different team. There will be significant changes this week and I anticipate more changes for the weeks to come.

Have you got a full squad?
It would be a push for [Jimmy] Kebe. He is a question mark. Bryn Gunnarsson is struggling, he's had another injection. Glen [Little] played another 90, he will be in the squad.