Reading Football Club News

• Nickname:Royals
• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Coppell backs Hunt return

02 Nov 2006 - 11:55:11

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Reading boss Steve Coppell is ready to welcome midfielder Stephen Hunt back into the fold after he was left out of the squad for the loss at Portsmouth.

The 25-year-old Irishman came under severe pressure after his clash with Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech just under a month ago, with Coppell deciding to give him a break last weekend.

Coppell told the Reading Chronicle: "Hunty's been under an immense amount of scrutiny for the past fortnight. He's suffered unfair criticism from so many quarters.

"I felt it was probably the right time to take him out of the equation, to give him a rest. But I still wanted him with us at Portsmouth.

"He's still very much part of the whole organisation. He's such an important member of the squad and a voice of the team."

Meanwhile, Coppell has ruled out loaning centre-half Sam Sodje to Championship side Leeds United.

He added: "I won't let Sam go anywhere now because we've got a lot of games coming up."