Reading Football Club News

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

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Keeper boost for Royals

18 Jun 2007 - 14:51:38

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Reading expect Marcus Hahnemann to be fit for the start of the new season, but Ibrahima Sonko won't be rushed back from his knee ligament injury.

American goalkeeper Hahnemann suffered broken bones in his hand during the final match of last season and should return in time for the new campaign, despite the possibility of missing the start of pre-season training.

However, Royals physio Jon Fearn has admitted it is a different story with Sonko, who has been sidelined since suffering knee ligament damage in January.

"Marcus won't be ready for pre-season training, but by the time the season starts he could be okay," he told the Reading Evening Post.

"His progress is slow because he had quite major surgery on his hand.

"He (Sonko) has started running and has been doing light power work. He will hopefully start specific football work in August so he will definitely miss the start of the season.

"But in those weeks he will step it up. It will be interesting to see how he copes, but if the carrot could be playing at the end of August - that will be six months after he had the op in February and Michael Owen was out for 11 months with the same injury."