Nigel Adkins makes a return to Madejski Stadium on Saturday (3pm) in charge of Hull City, looking to inflict further misery on his former club.
The Tigers battle the Royals on Saturday (3pm), with Paul Clement’s charges still seeking a first point at home all season following Wednesday night’s 2-1 defeat to Norwich City.
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And Adkins will not be the only face associated with both sides. David Meyler and Vito Mannone miss out through injury but fellow former Tigers Paul McShane and Sone Aluko could be involved for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Tommy Elphick and Chris Martin, who were both on loan at Reading last season, started for Hull in their midweek loss against Wigan Athletic.
Team news
As well as Meyler, Reading are still missing numerous players for the visit of Hull.
Adrian Popa is ruled out for two months with an ankle injury while Mannone, McShane and Tyler Blackett are also carrying knocks.
Dave Edwards, Jordan Obita and Callum Harriott are still long-term absentees and Garath McCleary is unlikely to return just yet as he builds up fitness following ankle surgery.
Clement calls on players to show more passion
Despite up to nine men missing out, Clement still has plenty of options and could make a host of changes following the awful first-half showing against Norwich. Josh Sims, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Modou Barrow all came off the bench against the Canaries and are pushing for starts with Aluko and Yakou Meite’s spots at risk.
Saeid Ezatolahi could make his Reading debut after being an unused substitute in midweek.
As for Hull, Dan Batty misses out with a knee injury but Fraizer Campbell and Evandro could be recalled.
Form
Just like last season, both sides are struggling near the bottom of the Championship table.
Reading ended last season in 20th place, two spots and five points below Hull.
The two sides have just three wins between them all campaign. The Royals picked up their first victory away at Preston last Saturday whilst Adkins’ men were defeating Ipswich 2-0.
What they said
Paul Clement: “We’ve got to roll our sleeves up and get on with it.
“The players have got to be tough, go out on the pitch a little bit angry and try to get a result.
“This is our job. All of us have been in good situations and bad situations.
“We have to be more consistent. It’s another opportunity, home game and there’s loads of games to be played still.
Nigel Adkins: “It’s a big game in a big week for us.
“We’re going up against a side close to us in the table, who are after a victory just like us. So all of our energy and focus is on this game in trying to get three points.
“I’ve been made really welcome down at Reading whenever I’ve gone back to watch a game there and I really enjoyed my time down there.
“We went through a very difficult stage where the club nearly went into administration and there were lots of changes behind the scenes.
“This is the first time I’ve gone back there with a club and I’d like to think we did a really good job there.”
Previous meetings
Both games between the pair last season ended level. Bodvarsson’s late equaliser earned Reading a point to cancel out Campbell’s goal in a 1-1 draw almost exactly one year against at the Mad Stad.
The return fixture in January ended goalless.
Hull have a good recent record against the Royals, unbeaten in eight meetings since 2005 when goals from Bobby Convey, Kevin Doyle and Glen Little earned a 3-1 win.
The overall record could not be much tighter. Since the first meeting in 1906, Reading have 17 wins to Hull’s 16 while 18 games have ended level.
Odds
The bookmakers make Reading marginal favourites at 7/5 with the visitors available at 19/10. The draw is priced at 23/10.
Bodvarsson scored against Norwich on Wednesday night and against Hull last season and is the favourite to score first at 5/1 while Martin is 9/5 to net at anytime against his former club.
