JAAP STAM says signing Chris Martin from Derby County is “a possibility”.
The striker has been heavily linked with a loan move to Reading this week and Stam confirmed that while no deal is in place, he is a name that has been spoken about.
On the pitch, Royals ended their eight-match winless run with a 3-0 win over Stevenage in the FA Cup third round replay thanks to a Jon Dadi Bodvarsson hat-trick but were without the injured Liam Moore.
The match will also be remembered for Reading wearing their home kit in the first half and away kit in the second half due to a clash with Stevenage.
Here is what Stam had to say after the game.
On the victory…
It’s good to have a win and go to the next round in the FA Cup but also for the players because it gives them a bit of extra confidence as well. You can see that in the game as well.
Anssi made a great save in the beginning of the game from that cross which was very important for us. After that we got more in our rhythm basically, kept our game going, scored two goals and after that our players play a bit easier than before.
On the clash of kits…
I said it before the game that it was quite strange that both sides were almost wearing the same colours or identical. But this was the only shirt they had and a blue one I believe and the referee wouldn’t let them play in blue, so they needed to wear the white one. We were wearing white as well of course so our kitman needed to go back to Hogwood to get the stuff and then we changed it.
On Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s hat-trick…
If you’re scoring three goals then you make a very good impression. We need to make a decision in what’s going to happen of course. I think that’s normal. Everybody knows that if you’re looking for goals and somebody is doing well then he can have the opportunity to play, but I’m not saying it’s going to happen.
He needs to show himself in the times he comes on or in the games when he can start and he’s certainly done that today.
On why Liam Moore wasn’t involved…
Liam Moore was injured. He rolled over his ankle on the last game against Hull so there was fluid in his ankle and we couldn’t risk him to play.
On Reading being linked to a deal for Chris Martin…
I’ve read that as well. All the strikers who are in the Championship and also the Premier League are also being mentioned with us as well. Chris Martin is also being mentioned but he was also being mentioned last season but then he was at Fulham. Now they bought Cameron Jerome from Norwich and maybe he is the one that can go out. He might be a possibility but we need to make sure if we bring somebody in that he is the one that can make the difference for us. I’m not going to say he’s not the one or he is the one.
On if there is any interest in Cameron Borthwick-Jackson…
He’s not on our list.
On injuries to McShane and Swift…
Macca has a hamstring strain so he’s going to be out for a while, I don’t know the exact time and that’s the same as Swifty.
On Liam Moore’s injury…
Liam, we need to assess him within the next couple of days and then we can make a decision if he can play or not against Brentford.
On facing Sheffield Wednesday in the next round…
It’s going to be an interesting game. Sheffield is not as far as the other team that they played, but they are always interesting games against Wednesday. Very good team and you want to do well in the FA Cup because you never know how far you can go. I think it’s a great competition to take part in and do well.
