Centre-back Hector admits Royals’ have had an ‘okay’ start to the Championship, with a short trip to Brentford up next before a fortnight off from league fixtures.

However, with influential players like Garath McCleary, Danny Williams, Jem Karacan and Anton Ferninand due back from injury in the weeks ahead, Hector believes Reading are ready to kick on.

Royals face back-to-back away games this week as Nigel Adkins’ men were due to travel to Leeds United last night (Wednesday) before heading down the M4 to face Brentford at Griffin Park this Saturday.

Hector, 22, said: “It’s been an okay start. We’ve had good and bad results but that’s the Championship.

“We haven’t been outplayed by anyone. Even that Nottingham Forest game (lost 4-0) was very tight, but they had one of those days when all their chances went in which doesn’t happen much in the Championship.

“It’s a long season and we will have to dig in. But we have a good team spirit which is important and everyone is pushing in the right direction.

“I think we can go a long way and with a couple of good results we can push up the table into the play-off positions.”

He added: “It’s a big week for us. It would be nice to get some positive results then have a bit of a break before we play Derby at home.

“Hopefully we’ll have some more players back fit before then as this is a tough season. There are no easy games but we will go to Brentford and look to be positive.”

Hector finally shut a few of his team-mates up last weekend when he scored his first senior Reading goal in the 3-3 thriller with Wolves at Madejski Stadium.

He headed home Oliver Norwood’s cross to give Royals the lead, but Adkins men had to settle for a point in an end-to-end televised game that also saw Jake Taylor and Glenn Murray net for the home side.

Hector had previously scored on loan for Barnet, Cheltenham and Aldershot and he also netted a stunner for Aberdeen in another televised game.

He admitted: “The goal was a long time coming. Some people in the changing room were giving me stick saying I don’t score enough, so it was great to finally get one.

“I joked with Jake that I only score when a game is on Sky. It happened again and we were buzzing afterwards.

“It would be nice if they could come back and film every game, but the main thing is we need to get promoted this year.

“However, as I centre back I want more clean sheets. When you score three goals like we did against Wolves you expect to win the game.

“As a defender 3-3 is not a great scoreline. You would much prefer a boring 1-0.

“We need to defend a bit better to stop certain things happening and stop conceding goals like that. But I felt the spirit we showed to come back was great.”

Hector was watched from the stands by scouts from Jamaica last Sunday, and he revealed: “I’ve heard a few things. It’s positive that people are watching me.

“I don’t know what I would do if England came calling because my dad, Patrick, wants me to play for Jamaica and it would be a pleasure to play for them.

“We will see what happens and for now I’ve just got to concentrate on Reading.”