STEVE Clarke is being forced to change his tactics in order to guide Reading FC out of a mini-rut, writes Anthony Smith.

Royals have not won in five Championship matches and were beaten 2-0 by a mediocre Cardiff City last weekend to drop to eighth in the table.

Clarke’s men had been in superb form earlier in the season after seven wins in eight league games put them within touching distance of the top.

But Reading have lost most of their spark in the past three weeks, resulting in a meagre haul of three points from 15 on offer before the current international break.

And Clarke, who hopes to bolster his squad with two new signing, admits it’s time to go back to the drawing board.

“We’ve stuttered over the last couple of weeks so we have to go away, analyse, and come up with a way of playing that gets us back on the winning trail,” he declared.

“The last time the international break came around, it came at a bad time for us. We were on a good run, we had good momentum, we were playing well and picking up lots of points.

“This time, perhaps, it has come at a good time for us. We can go away, take stock, reassess, get ready to go again and come back stronger.”

Injuries to key players have certainly taken their toll with central midfielders Stephen Quinn and Aaron Tshibola plus forward Hal Robson-Kanu all unlikely to play again this year.

Therefore, Clarke moved to bolster his depleted midfield this week by handing a trial to American ace Dillon Powers. The 24-year-old is training with the Royals for a fortnight in a bid to secure a move to England.

Powers currently plays for MLS outfit Colorado Rapids, where his teammates include ex-Reading striker, Kevin Doyle.

The Texas-born player was named the MLS ‘Rookie of the Year’ during his debut season in 2013.

He played 32 matches for Rapids, scored three goals and made six assists last season, which ended in October.

It is thought the ex-USA Under 20 international owns an Italian passport and will not require a work permit.

Royals have also taken 31-year-old free agent, Kevin Foley, on trial this week with a view to a permanent signing.

The former Wolves and Republic of Ireland full-back had been training with League One Shrewsbury Town until he accepted an invitation from the Royals.

Foley is keen to win a contract until the end of the season as he works his way back to fitness following a shoulder operation, having been released by Danish club FC Copenhagen in June.

He was a firm favourite at Wolves after making 213 appearances for the club between 2007 and 2015, winning their Player of the Year in 2009 when they won promotion to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Clarke has been heavily linked with a move for out-of-favour Sunderland star Liam Bridcutt, though Cardiff City and Leeds United also want the 26-year-old Scotland international.

Reading FC are not in action this weekend due to an international break, with seven Royals players called up by their countries.