Swift return, key relegation games and more Reading FC talking points

Reading midfielder John Swift. Credit: Eddie Greville

It's the start of a big week for Reading FC with the games coming thick and fast for the rest of the season.

Jaap Stam will be hoping a short training camp in Spain last week rejuvenated the side in their battle against Championship relegation.

Royals return to league action on the back of a free weekend when they take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).

The threat of relegation continues to linger around Reading with only four points separating them from the bottom three.

Fans and players alike are looking nervously over their shoulders although there are still a number of reasons to be positive.

Here are some of the key talking points for the week ahead.

Swift's return

Midfielder John Swift is set to make his return to the first team at Forest after recovering from a hamstring problem.

The former Chelsea man has had a limited impact this season due to the persistent injury but Royals will be hoping he can provide a spark to reignite the rest of the season.

Swift's ability to both create and score goals has been greatly missed and one of key reasons why the side linger where they do in the table.

Key relegation games

Reading are effectively in a relegation scrap alongside six other teams with none completely cast adrift quite yet.

Reading boss Jaap Stam. Credit: Eddie Greville

Some of the games this week could see the mini-table restructured, however, with several of the six coming up against each other.

Tuesday sees Barnsley host Burton, while Sunderland travel to Bolton. In addition, Saturday sees Birmingham City take on Barnsley in what could lead to an increasing divide between the six come the end of the week.

Will the goal drought end?

Royals are experiencing somewhat of a goal drought at home with no goals in their past three league games at Madejski Stadium.

Promotion contenders Derby County are the visitors on Saturday and will no doubt prove a stern test for Royals' attacking threats.

That game is the first of four in five at home and with crowds at the Mad Stad far from high this season, expect things to look the same if Royals continue to misfire.

Time for Martin to prove his worth

Loan striker Chris Martin claimed his first goal in a Reading shirt just over a week ago in the 2-1 loss at Middlesbrough.

He is ineligible to play against his parent club Derby this weekend so only has 14 games left in a Reading shirt to prove his worth.

Striker Chris Martin. Credit: Eddie Greville

With Yann Kermorgant and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson both struggling in front of goal, Martin has a fantastic chance to prove he can step up in this time and maybe even earn a potential move to Reading over the summer.

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