Church mission to get started
Anthony Smith • Published 6 Oct 2010 07:30
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On a mission: Reading striker Simon Church admits he would like to start games more often.
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SIMON Church admits he does not want to be labelled as Reading’s next ‘Supersub’.
The Wales striker has made nine appearances this season, but only four have been starts.
His one goal so far came in the 1-0 victory against Ipswich Town at the Madejski Stadium last week when he came off the bench to net with his very first touch.
To date it remains the only goal scored by a Royals striker in open play this current Championship campaign.
And Church, left, remarked: “It has been a bit stop-start for me which can obviously get you down, it’s a little bit frustrating.
“But that’s why we have so much depth to our squad - anyone can come into the team and play well.
“Here at Reading there is a sense of security, you know you are a good player.”
Church’s dramatic impact in the win against Roy Keane’s Tractor Boys earned him a start at Preston North End last Saturday.
But it was midfielder Jem Karacan who scored a sensational equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Deepdale.
Church was taken off after 68 minutes and replaced by Noel Hunt, whose return to fitness is putting added pressure on Church and Shane Long to perform.
And with boss Brian McDermott still in the market for a loan striker, Church knows competition for places could soon be even more fierce.
“If I’m a substitute I always want to get on the pitch because I’m confident in what I can do,” he said. “But it’s down to the manager at the end of the day.
“Obviously, I want to play every game but the manager picks a team he thinks can win games so I’ve just got to get on with it and wait for my opportunity.”
Meanwhile, Church and Royals team-mate Hal Robson-Kanu are both in the Wales squad ahead of two Euro qualifiers against Bulgaria in Cardiff tomorrow (Friday) and away to Switzerland next week.
Zurab Khizanishvili is with the Georgia squad for their qualifiers against Malta and Latvia, while Long is away with the Republic of Ireland who take on Russia in Dublin then travel to Slovakia.
Goalkeeper Adam Federici is currently on standby for Australia, but they are unlikely to make him fly to Sydney for a friendly against Paraguay.
Brynjar Gunnarsson, however, has withdrawn from the Iceland squad through injury and is facing a race to be fit for Reading’s Championship clash with Brendan Rodgers’ Swansea City on Saturday week.
Mikkel Andersen (Denmark U21s) and Carl McHugh (Republic of Ireland U21s) are also on international duty.
Academy striker James Murphy scored twice for Republic of Ireland Under 17s recently.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 08 Oct 10
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