READING manager Paul Ince has opened up about Cesare Casadei’s lack of playing time.
The Chelsea midfielder made his debut against Watford, just five days after signing on loan, but was hauled off after 56 minutes and has not featured since.
Speaking after Friday’s defeat to Cardiff, Ince explained: “He’s only 20. When you come from Inter Milan, [there is] the culture shock of coming to a new country.
“To be fair he did OK in the first game, but he is 20 and you look at him in training and you think he just needs a bit more experience.
“You’ve got to remember he’s coming from Italy, trained with the U21s or U23s – it’s not the same tempo as men’s football.
“He’s probably one of those where he’ll get better in the next two, three weeks once he knows the tempo of the game. The Championship is a tough, tough league.”
With Ince bereft of midfield options of late, he admitted toying with the idea of starting Casadei against the Bluebirds.
He said: “I actually thought about putting him in today, but with Mama [Loum] coming back and Ty [Fornah] getting the winner on Tuesday – hopefully we’ll see more of him [Casadei].
“He’s still 20, but he’s still growing into his body. We’ll see a lot more of him this season.”
The midfielder came through Inter Milan’s academy before moving to Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth €15 million.
Having scored four goals in nine Premier League 2 appearances this term, Casadei put pen to paper for a half-season loan with the Royals on January 30.
