Headline: Reading’s Leam Richardson Faces Key Player Absences Ahead of Stockport Clash
Reading’s head coach Leam Richardson announced that his team will be missing several key players for their upcoming match against Stockport County on Saturday. The Royals, currently positioned sixth in League One with six wins out of 14 games, will face the second-placed Hatters while dealing with injuries, suspensions, and international call-ups.
The team recently secured a 5-0 victory over Peterborough United in the FA Cup but suffered a penalty shootout loss to Bristol Rovers earlier this week in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy.
Richardson reported to BBC Radio Berkshire that defender Jacob Brown continues to struggle with rib issues following the team’s match against Oxford. Additionally, Jeriel Dorsett has received a call-up to represent Montserrat but is also dealing with a minor injury. Both players will be unavailable for this weekend’s match.
Moreover, defender Paudie O’Connor is set to serve a suspension after accumulating five yellow cards, a significant blow for the team as he has proven to be a consistent and dependable player. “He’s a big personality on the pitch and off the pitch, so it’s disappointing,” said Richardson, expressing his dissatisfaction with the booking O’Connor received in the Oxford game.
The Royals will also be without Josh Knight, who is injured, and midfielder Andy Rinomhota, who is expected to serve his suspension while on international duty with Zimbabwe.
Saturday’s game against Stockport marks the fifth consecutive away fixture for Reading, who last played at their home ground, Select Car Leasing Stadium, in late October. Richardson emphasized the importance of careful travel and recovery planning in recent weeks due to the rigorous schedule, which included matches at Plymouth, Oxford, Peterborough, Bristol, and now Greater Manchester.
“I’m really looking forward to it and think it will be a good game. Fingers crossed we’re prepared and get a positive result to finish these away days in this block off,” he added. He praised Stockport as a competitive team that has been well-coached and active in recruiting players, making them a formidable opponent in the league.
