Reading FC are currently having to play without their top goalscorer, Jack Marriott, who is still dealing with an injury which he picked up last month.
Marriott has made a flying start to his Royals career having arrived late in the summer transfer window from Championship side Wrexham.
Reading made a slow start to the campaign under Noel Hunt with the team facing several issues in attack before Marriott arrived.
He went on an exceptional run where he netted in five consecutive League One matches before he picked up a hamstring issue during Reading’s defeat at Cardiff City on October 18.
That means that he is yet to feature under new manager Leam Richardson as he looks to try and ignite Reading’s season following an underwhelming start to the campaign which sees them hovering just above the relegation places.
There is no definitive return date for Marriott, as well as several other casualties, with Richardson choosing to be coy on sharing any details surrounding his injured players.
This has caused concern among certain members of the fanbase, while others have praised Richardson’s approach as to not give anything away to the opposition regarding the fitness of his squad.
Richardson did admit a couple of weeks back that a couple of absentees had faced a setback in their recoveries, but he chose not to mention them by name.
He said: “There’s a couple who have had a few setbacks as well, which I’d rather not say and put the lads under pressure.”
While Reading fans don’t yet know when they will see their star striker return, it’s clear that his presence is being sorely missed as the Royals have netted just four times since Marriott picked up his injury.
Reading are back in League One action on Saturday when they face the long trip to Blackpool.
Blackpool have also had a tricky start to the season and are currently facing a relegation fight. They sit in 22nd place in the table on 16 points, three behind Reading.
They are now managed by former Botlon boss Ian Evatt who took over from Steve Bruce last month after he was sacked.
