Reading FC is set to host Aston Villa in an English Championship clash on Tuesday at the Madejski Stadium.
The game would definitely be hard fought as Reading enter the game after playing a 1-1 draw with Queen Park Rangers over the weekend. Reading captain Paul McShane is set to miss the game due to a hamstring injury he picked up during the QPR clash. Aside McShane, Striker Yakou Meite and defender Jake Cooper are also sidelined as they are yet to fully recover from their injuries.
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce will get another chance at proving his worth at the club when he leads the team to Reading. However, he would be without defenders Micah Richards and Tommy Elphick who have calf injuries. This is a significant blow ahead of the game but Jordan Ayew and Leandro Bacuna would be in action having been rested in the Wolves clash over the weekend.
Reading boss Jaap Stam will be keen on protecting an unbeaten home record they have maintained thus far in the season. Stam told the BBC:
“Villa’s a great side to face, a big side, a side that’s invested a lot of money in bringing players in to go back to the Premier League. It hasn’t been easy for them up until now, but with the new manager in place they’ll want to win and get as high up the table. But we want to win our games as well and even against a side like Villa, we will still go for a win.”
Both managers were legendary central defenders for Manchester United with Stam arriving a year after Bruce left in the 1990s. Reading have lost just one in the past 11 games so they would be confident going into the game. Villa have not had a victory in ten league games but things are expected to change under Bruce.
