Royals pair battling back

07 July 2010 15:01
Reading pair Noel Hunt and Ivar Ingimarsson both expect to have fully recovered from long-term injury in time for the opening game of the new npower Championship season. Striker Hunt missed the last six months of last season due to a knee injury, while defender Ingimarsson's campaign was cut short in March after he sustained a hamstring problem. Royals manager Brian McDermott said: "Noel has trained with us and it's like a new signing. It's been difficult for him, if you're out for nine months it can be quite lonely at times. "But he's done everything he's had to do to get to where he is now and he's going to be a real asset to us this year. "Ivar is also close. I'd imagine he'll be fit to play a match by the end of pre-season so that's not a problem. "He won't come to Slovenia, he'll work back here individually, but I'm sure he'll be very close to playing when we come back."

Source: PA