READING FC assistant manager Andries Ulderink heaped praise on fit-again Joey van den Berg after the Dutchman's stellar display against Rafa Benitez's Newcastle United last night.

The midfielder, who has often slotted in as a makeshift centre-back for Jaap Stam's men this season, played a full 90 minutes in the 0-0 draw after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Sitting just in front of Paul McShane and Liam Moore, the 31-year-old was tasked with tracking the ever-dangerous Ayoze Perez.

But van den Berg kept his cool and kept the Magpies' at bay, while also making some eye-catching passes which put the Magpies under pressure.

The Dutchman has had his fair share of criticism this season from Reading, some of whom believe he should not be a first-team regular.

But after he scooped a deserved man-of-the-match award against Newcastle, Ulderink insisted: "We have had some problems with injuries," declared Stam's assistant.

"We have Tiago out for a while and Paul McShane was out for a couple of weeks, which meant Liam Moore has had to play lots of games, but now he has picked up an injury.

"With Joey back fit we have plenty of cover to solve that problem.

"The way Newcastle played, especially with Ayoze Perez sometimes dropping deep and sometimes going high up the pitch, Joey was so good tactically working with the centre backs to track him.

"I don't follow what people say about whether they like players or not but I think anyone who saw him on Tuesday will appreciate the way he played and the way the whole team played."

Reading Chronicle:

Joey van den Berg, centre, was man-of-the-match against Newcastle United in the 0-0 draw.

Madejski Stadium was a near sell-out against the Magpies with the crowd of more 23,000 making up the biggest gate of the season.

Despite dominating 70% of possession, Reading lacked clear-cut chances, although they could have taken an early lead when Lewis Grabban headed wide and almost stole it at the death when Garath McCleary hit the bar.

Nevertheless, van den Berg was pleased with his contribution as he steps up his fitness..

“I’m getting better,” he explained. “The first match back against Wolves was hard. After 70 minutes in that one I was ‘kaput’ as we say in Holland.

“You can only improve your fitness through games. You can train as hard as you want but it’s the games that make you fit. I think I’m getting stronger every week now.”

He added: “As a team we broke down Newcastle's play very well and worked together.

"We knew their strengths. Newcastle are a very good team with very good individual qualities, so we are happy with a draw."