Bottom-of-the-table Reading go in search of their opening win of the season as they host Newcastle United on Saturday.
Reading look for opening win
Bottom-of-the-table Reading go in search of their opening win of the season as they host Newcastle United on Saturday.
Royals boss Brian McDermott will be desperate to claim his first three points of the season whilst Newcastle will look to maintain a good run of form which has seen them lose just once this season.
It will also see Alan Pardew return to the Madejski Stadium where he spent four years in charge up to 2003 before his departure to West Ham United.
History wise it is fairly level, the two clubs have only met four times in the top-flight, all Premier League games stretching from 2006 to 2008. Since then both sides have been up and down. Indeed their last clashes were in the Championship in 2009/10 when Newcastle did the double.
Reading come into the game on a three-match losing streak, something they will be desperate to put right. Newcastle have picked up just one point on the road so far, and that was a fortunate draw at Everton.Reading striker Jason Roberts could make his first appearance of the season on Saturday. A calf injury has sidelined the former Blackburn man so far this term, but he is now in contention to play.
Mali winger Jimmy Kebe played against QPR in midweek and his hamstring problem will be assessed before the match, but he is likely to feature.
Hal Robson-Kanu, who started at Loftus Road, will hope to keep his place in the side but Jobi McAnuff could return.
Chris Gunter, Garath McCleary and Danny Guthrie will be hoping for recalls after sitting out the QPR match. Goalkeeper Adam Federici remains a doubt with a knee injury.Papiss Cisse will be looking to start the match after coming off the bench to open his account for the season in the League Cup defeat at Manchester United on Wednesday.
Cheick Tiote started at Old Trafford after being sidelined for a number of weeks and he looks set to continue at Reading for his first Premier League start since the opening day.
Fabricio Coloccini played an hour in midweek due to a recent hamstring problem, but he should be fine to start alongside Steven Taylor.
Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba will all likely return after missing the Man United clash.
