Injuries cast shadow on promotion push

SOMETIMES getting enthused by the triviality of football seems ludicrous. This week, with everything else going on in the world, it’s difficult to get hugely concerned about whether Reading can reach the League 1 play offs. Everyone finds the news bulletins more interesting than the sports bulletins right now and that’s exactly how it should be.

Despite this, there was still great excitement when Reading scored twice in stoppage time last weekend to beat Bradford City at the SCL Stadium. That result put them within a point of the top six, but they’ve subsequently slipped to two points off the pace following Wycombe’s win on Tuesday evening.

There’s exactly quarter of the season left, so it’s too early to start looking at the results of other teams, and how they might impact Reading’s league standing. Wait until the last month of the season before doing that, or risk exhaustion.

This weekend we’re off to Luton, which is never something to get overly-enthused by, even in the best of times. Kenilworth Road is a horrible little ground. Cramped, uncomfortable, zero parking and in Luton. Ignoring this, the game is important to Reading’s chances of success this season.

Luton are four points and a couple of places behind Reading. If Reading did manage an away win this weekend it would reduce the number of serious contenders looking good for a spot in the play offs. Jack Wilshere, Luton’s manager, will know his team need to improve. They haven’t won any of their last four league games. Reading have only lost two in their last 12 games. If they only lose two of their next 12 games they should be comfortably into the May play offs.

Although they beat Bradford last Saturday, the most significant development was striker Jack Marriott being ruled out with an injury. Marriott pulled up with back spasms in the draw against Bolton a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps unwisely, he then played a gruelling 85 minutes on a heavy pitch at Port Vale four days later. Marriott was unable to appear last weekend, and rumours abounded that Marriott may not play again this season. That would potentially end Reading’s superb run of results, because his sharp finishing has been the crucial factor. Worryingly, there is little in the way of alternative strike options waiting to fill Marriott’s spot.

Marriott is not alone in the treatment room. Will Keane was brought in to cover exactly this sort of eventuality, but he’s already out injured. Youngster Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan clearly should be playing on the left wing rather than as a makeshift striker. We always feared the lack of strikers might cost Reading dear. The club gambled on strikers with dubious injury records. Both Keane and Marriott are well into their 30s and both have missed a good number of games in recent seasons.

The fitness of squad’s will be a large part in determining who has a crack at promotion to the Championship in May, and who can head off to the beach early. After this last week though, footballers won’t be heading to their usual end of season getaway destinations.