READING FC will face one of their former players when they take on Charlie Adam’s Fleetwood Town side on Tuesday night.
Both teams are in a fight for League One survival with the Royals clawing themselves out of the drop zone with back-to-back wins.
The Royals defeated fellow relegation rivals Charlton Athletic 2-0 on Saturday on the back of an away win at Stevenage to put them up to 18th position.
Meanwhile, Fleetwood were beaten at the weekend at Lincoln City having picked up seven points from their previous three games.
The Cod Army have given themselves a fighting chance of surviving the drop after a run of two consecutive wins, against Bristol Rovers and Port Vale on the back of gaining a point at Wycombe.
Former Scotland international Adam took over the reins at Fleetwood after Lee Johnson was sacked following a run of nine games without a win in December.
It is Adam’s first role as a manager since retiring from professional football in 2022.
Adam, who played 26 times for Scotland, also spent a season with Reading in 2019/20.
The midfielder played 21 Championship games for the Royals, scoring in a 3-0 home win over Derby County and also netted from the penalty spot in a 2-1 away win at Fulham on New Year’s Day 2020.
The reverse fixture at the SCL was won by Fleetwood thanks to a dramatic stoppage time winner in October.
Bosun Lawal had given Fleetwood the lead two minutes inside the game before Dom Ballard levelled in the second-half. With the match in the 92nd minute, Josh Vela scored to give Fleetwood three points.
Fleetwood are currently in the drop zone in 23rd on 25 points which puts them six points adrift of safety and nine points behind the Royals.
Ruben Selles’ side will still be without defender Tom Holmes who is recovering from a back injury and is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks.
Predicted Reading line-up: Button, Yiadom, Mbengue, Bindon, Dorsett, Savage, Wing, Knibbs, Azeez, Mukairu, Smith