Sunday 18 January 2015 17:01, UK
Fulham manager Kit Symons insists Bryan Ruiz is fully committed to the club despite the fact the midfielder could walk away for free this summer.
The Costa Rican forward came off the bench and headed home a decisive stoppage-time goal to secure a 2-1 Sky Bet Championship victory over Reading at Craven Cottage on Saturday, having shaken off a niggling injury to play.
The 29-year-old is out of contract in six months' time and Symons knows the £10.6million signing could depart for nothing.
"I would think there is a chance, but there's nothing for him at the moment," the Welshman said when asked if he was resigned to Ruiz leaving.
"I had a good chat with him on Friday and he's very committed, he wanted to be involved.
"He's just come back from a little injury and he was good. So I involved him and he came on and scored the winner, so I'm delighted."
Fulham took the lead in the 55th minute when Sweden midfielder Alexander Kacaniklic scored his first goal for the club in over 14 months - on his first start since returning from a loan spell at FC Copenhagen.
But Reading equalised on 63 minutes as Pavel Pogrebnyak headed in his first league goal of the season against the club he scored six goals for while on loan in 2012, before Ruiz's late winner.
Symons has recently brought Kacaniklic and fellow midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe back from loan spells away and revealed that was part of his plan from the moment he was appointed manager in late October.
"Both Alex and Ryan were players out on loan and the original idea was for season-long loans, but they both had a break in January and as soon as I took over one of the first things I said was 'I want these boys back'," Symons said.
"They're both really good players. I know them well and they both have Championship experience, so for me it was a no-brainer."
Reading manager Steve Clarke was distraught to lose the game so late but saw the positives with Pogrebnyak scoring his first league goal of the campaign.
Clarke said: "Goalscorers thrive on goals and it was a fantastic header. Pav has been working hard. He's been out for a long spell - for five and half weeks before I came into the club.
"We've nursed him back. We got a good hour last week [against Middlesbrough] and he got longer this week.
"I though him and Simon Cox ran themselves into the ground, which is why I made the late change.
"But for any striker the aim is to score goals and hopefully it gives Pav a boost and he can score a few more for us."
