Goalscorer Andy Carroll believes the international break has come at the ideal time for Reading before they face the final stretch in their Championship campaign.
The Royals are currently nine points above the relegation zone, but with an EFL points deduction looming, they are likely to get dragged into the mix in a fight for survival.
Speaking after he scored the equalising goal in a 1-1 draw with Hull City, Carroll said: “It’s nice to get something from your last game before the internationals.
“There’s nothing worse than going in, two weeks of no football and knowing that you got beat in the last game.
“So it’s good that the lads can go away from the game with another point and get a bit of rest and recovery before we prepare for the next game.
“The break couldn’t have come at a better time.
“With the injuries we have, the list is ongoing. We can’t get the whole team fit.
“We have eight or nine players injured that could be starting.”
Going into the final eight matches of the season, Carroll is determined for his team to take the positives from the Tigers match to find some much needed form to try and secure their Championship status.
He continued: “The last stretch of games is massive and the points that are on offer.
“If any of the teams below us go on a little run they can drag us right in it.
“So it was a massive point against Hull and we need to keep going and get as many as we can before the end of the season.
“We needed the point, we wanted three, but we’ll take one because it’s a step closer.
“We’ve been playing against the top teams and it’s been really tough. We’ve been missing a few players too.
“Against Hull we played well, we passed it well and created some chances.
“We probably could have nicked the game so we have to take positive and look forward.”
