Cox and Jamie Mackie were left out of Adkins’ XI in the 3-1 loss at Blackburn on Saturday, only to score all three Royals goals on their return in Tuesday’s 3-0 home win against Rotherham.

It means the duo are almost certainly guaranteed a start against Charlton Athletic this Saturday when Reading attempt to clinch a third victory in four Championship matches.

Cox netted twice against the Millers to take his tally to seven goals for the season, and he beamed: “There’s something about the number three with us at the moment.

“It was good to get a reaction after the weekend, to score three very well worked goals and keep a clean sheet.

“The boys at the back have come in for a bit of criticism of late, so it was good to show character and desire out there.”

But Royals’ leading scorer Cox also stressed he had no gripe with Adkins’ decision to drop him to the bench at Blackburn.

“He made the decision and we have to respect that and do our best,” he confessed.

“I have fully supported every decision he has made so far. He decided to bring me back in on Tuesday and I went out there and fired a warning at him to show that’s what I can do.

“The first was a nice little finish and with the second you sometimes catch them sweetly and they go in and other times they finish in row ‘z’ and you look a bit of an idiot.

“It was nice to score two on the night and now we can kick on and think about Saturday.

“But I don’t see it as proving a point. I was brought in to do a job.”

Reading looked a serious threat on Tuesday night albeit against a lacklustre Millers who offered little threat.

Cox added: “Jamie Mackie also scored a good goal and we justified our selection on the night.

“I like my partnership with Glenn who gets a lot of cuts and bruises doing the donkey work for me.

“He wasn’t too happy because he didn’t score. His workrate deserved a goal, but he will get his fair share and I’m really enjoying playing with him.”

Before Tuesday’s win, a run of one victory in eight Championship matches left Adkins under pressure.

But Royals have now won their last two home games, scored six goals and conceded none to leave them six points off the play-off positions.

In fact, they have an identical points tally (21) after the same number of games (16) as they did in the 2011/12 season when Reading were promoted to the Premier League under Brian McDermott.

And Cox insisted: “Our confidence hasn’t been dented, we always believe we can win games and that we are doing the right things.

“Off the back of Tuesday we will go into Saturday’s game with Charlton looking for another positive result.

“Anyone can beat anyone in this league but we feel we can impose our game on them and get the right result.”

Reading’s Anton Ferdinand faces a late fitness test after tweaking a calf muscle on his debut on Tuesday night.

Former Royals defender Andre Bikey is likely to start for the Addics, though ex-Reading striker Simon Church is likely to miss out with injury.