RUBEN Selles believes his Reading side can build on Saturday’s 4-2 defeat to Southampton as the start of the 2023-24 season draws near.
Jan Bednarek, James Ward-Prowse, Adam Armstrong and Joe Aribo got on the scoresheet for the Saints, while Harvey Knibbs and trialist Olamide Shodipo netted for the Royals.
Of the performance, Selles said: “I prefer to win, but we need to respect where we are and the situation we are in. We have some good bits of the team that we want to be, and we need to work more on it.
“We had some good situations in possession, not as much as we want, we had some good bits in the pressure, not as much as we want, but we respect our opponents today and the level they are. We just need to build from that.”
Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs, both of whom were at Cambridge United last season, combined for the Royals’ first goal under Selles’ stewardship.
Selles said: “You can see immediately the understanding between those two players, hopefully we will understand them better and we can understand the situation as a team.”
The Spaniard confirmed that Charlie Savage is expected to sign with the Berkshire club in the ‘next couple of hours’.
“We expect Charlie to be with us in the next couple of hours,” he said. “It’s going to be great if he finally completes all the paperwork that they need to do.
“We need more of those profiles, exciting young players, as well as experienced players who can support us. I think it’ll be a good balance for the season.”
The Reading boss was asked questions about several players who did not play, including his most recent signing, Lewis Wing, who was announced yesterday.
“We know we are a little bit behind in those terms,” he explained. “We’ll have some of our targets before the season starts.
“I think Lewis is a very strong player in League One, he played 44 last season. He’s a player who’s very dynamic, he can press, he can hold the ball as a 6, he can make a difference in the playmaking positions and also in the set plays.
“He’s a complete player, and part of this group of players who will be robust for us. Hopefully he will help us get our targets for this season.”
Selles added that Andy Yiadom and Andy Carroll have been involved in some training sessions, and hopes they can play some part in the two remaining pre-season friendlies.
“We are just waiting and expecting that they will be ready for us in the first game of the season,” he said.
Midfielder Ovie Ejaria has not featured for the Royals since a 2-0 defeat away at Watford in August of last year.
Selles explained: “He’s injured, it’s a long-term injury. We don’t expect him to be with us until the end of August or the beginning of September. As much as I know, it’s the same injury that’s carried [over].
“We need to respect the timings, we don’t want to [bring him back] too early and for him to miss games. Hopefully he will be ready for the beginning of September.”
