Reading look to be closer to having two first-team players back available after the pair stepped up their training.
The Royals’ transfer embargo means that the club have been operating with very few options with a big issue emerging with the sale of star striker Sam Smith to Wrexham in the final days of the January transfer window.
Captain and Winger Return Nears
According to the Reading Chronicle, both club captain Andy Yiadom and young winger Adrian Akande both featured in the club’s Premier League 2 match against Aston Villa’s academy side, with the Berkshire outfit claiming a 3-1 win.
Yiadom has been missing for the best part of a year following a knee injury suffered in April 2024 against Bristol Rovers. He only made a substitute appearance in his first game back since his recovery.
Akande meanwhile was on the scoresheet at Villa’s training complex, having played 16 times for Reading this season, having last featured the FA Cup win over Harborough Town in December.
Speaking to the media following the match and prior to the first team’s game against Huddersfield Town, Noel Hunt said of Yiadom and Akande:
“It’s good. They have a little bit to go, the both of them, but keep building their minutes and hopefully we get them back involved with us as soon as we can.”
Writer’s View
It won’t be immediate returns for the pair but it is very good news for Reading. Their returns to fitness allows Noel Hunt to make rotations across the team, especially at right-back where Andy Yiadom can fill in for Michael Craig. Akande was already a good choice from the bench under now-Hull City boss Ruben Selles, and Hunt will want to return him to that position as a relieving option to ease the workloads of players like Chem Campbell and Mamadi Camara, both of whom started on the wings in the draw with Huddersfield Town.
