‘We weren’t sure if he’d ever play again’ Liam Moore poised for Reading FC return in FA Cup

Reading FC manager Paul Ince confirmed that former club captain Liam Moore will be involved in the FA Cup third-round tie with Watford.

Moore has been out injured for more than eight months after a turbulent spell last year that saw him pick up a big injury during his loan spell at Stoke City after he was stripped of club captaincy.

Ince admitted that he wasn’t sure if Moore would be able to continue his career at the top level after sustaining the injury at Stoke.

When asked whether Moore will feature on Saturday, Ince said: “Yes, definitely. He played 45 against West Ham last week and came out of that and felt fine. He will play a part on Saturday.

“I wasn’t party to what went on prior, which is a good thing, but it wouldn’t have mattered to me anyway.

“Where we are with the embargo, we need as many players as we can get and what I believe, when Liam Moore was playing here he was a very good player and captain for this club.

‘Why didn’t we give him a chance?‘: West Ham fans react after Reading FC secure signing of young talent

20 Years On: The Day Reading FC announced themselves in the English top flight

“He’s done very well because he had a career threatening injury and we weren’t sure if he’d ever play again, especially at this level.

“He had one or two moments where he had to go and see the specialists and if it went the other way then that would have been him finished.

“Credit to him, he’s been in the gym since I’ve been here working hard to try and get some form of football for himself.

“That’s tough for any player to think your career could be coming to an end at such a young age.

“For him to have that in his head and still do the work, he’s been dedicated to it. I’ve been watching him get stronger.

“He was going to join us in Tenerife but he did his calf which didn’t help.”

Moore joined the Royals in 2016 from Leicester City and has made more than 200 Championship appearances for the club.

Ince continued: “Now looking at him train everyday, he’s hungry and ready to go. Irrespective of what’s gone on before, having someone like Liam Moore is like bringing in a new player for me. He’ll play a part on Saturday.

“It will be great to have him back. We won’t rush him because eight months is a long time but if he can get 45 or 60 minutes against Watford that would be great.”