The situation that currently prevails at Reading FC hadn’t been so affectionately palpable for them in the recent past because prior to the first kick of the ball this term, the Royals were deemed as prospective relegation battlers, courtesy to their miserable seventeenth place finish in the 2015-16 season of the English Football League Championship. The night was indeed the darkest just before the dawn, and eventually, the ray of jovial sunshine was brought to the club all the way from the Netherlands.
Jaap Stam has turned the fortunes of Reading FC as it is under his tutelage that they find themselves right in the middle of the scheme of things as far as the playoff spots are concerned (even an automatic qualification spot isn’t out of the equation). Placed fourth in the league table after 32 games, with 60 points, they are merely 5 points behind second-seeded Brighton & Hove Albion. Stam faces a series of make or break fixtures up ahead, and the first of those is their clash against Huddersfield Town at John Smith’s Stadium.
Paul McShane and Joey Van den Berg are likely to make a return but it is to be seen as to whether the manager would use them straight away (though it is the call of the hour). Nevertheless, here is our Reading FC predicted line-up to face the Terries.
Defence
Ali Al Habsi has accumulated 10 clean sheets from 30 league games and is expected to guard the visiting side’s post once again on Tuesday. In Reading’s resurgence against Brentford, where they came back from behind to score two goals in four second-half minutes to win the game 3-2, Al Habsi played an instrumental role with the saves he made and the way he distributed the ball which were top class indeed.
Likely to be stationed at the heart of Stam’s defensive setup is the pair of Paul McShane and Liam Moore as Tyler Blackett had a horrible day at the office against Brentford. On the right and left-back slots, we expect to see Christopher Gunter and Jordan Obita, respectively, thus forming a four-man defensive wall.
Midfield
The former Ajax assistant manager should go with a 4-4-2 formation, with John Swift in the central midfield alongside Jordon Mutch. Gareth McCleary should be on right wing and Roy Beerens on the left to sync the attack with the defensive line. Mutch looked pretty pale in the last outing and the upcoming test would be huge for the veteran.
Attack
Right up front, the formidable January transfer window incoming in the shape of Lewis Grabban should be given the nod along with Yann Kermorgant to rattle David Wagner’s defence. A lot will be relied on how their strikers impose pressure on the home side in this nail-biting fixture.
