MIKELE Leigertwood is convinced he has a major role to play in the push for promotion as he nears his Reading FC comeback.

The 30-year-old midfielder and 2012 Championship title winner has returned to full training after an operation on his ankle in the summer.

He is expected to make his first competitive start for Royals Under 21s within the next week or two.

“I’m training with the team again now which is great and I’m building up my fitness,” he said. “I hope to play for the Under 21s soon and at the moment I feel fine.

“I needed to have surgery towards the end of last season. Before that I was just getting through games, it was affecting me a lot.

“I would have good days and bad days, but it got to the point where the pain was unbearable and the experts said I needed to get it done.

“I’m glad I did because it gave me the summer to recover and now I’m ready to play again.”

Leigertwood faces stiff competition in the midfield following the arrival of Royston Drenthe, Danny Williams and Chris Baird.

But he is confident he can become a regular in Adkins’ side again.

“The manager made no bones about having a strong squad and he’s made some great signings,” he argued. “We’re going to need those bodies if we are to keep pushing up the league.

“The players who have come in have done fantastically well but it’s up to me to play hard when I get the opportunity.”

And he added: “I speak to the manager every day and and he is keen to get me more and more involved.

“He asked me to go on the pre-season tour to Portugal when he didn’t have to. I would have stayed behind and worked with the physios but he wanted me out there with them which was nice to hear.”

Meanwhile, Anton Zingarevich is yet to complete his full takeover of Reading FC and has missed the original deadline.

The mega-wealthy Russian was due to purchase the remaining 49% of the club from chairman Sir John Madejski before the end of September, having acquired 51% for £25 million 16 months ago.

However, it is understood the deal has been delayed, though there is no suggestion the takeover is in danger and both parties are happy to extend the deadline further.

Zingarevich, who became a father last month, will become the sole owner of the Royals through his Thames Sports Investment company, ending Madejski’s 22-year-old reign at the helm.

Reading are unbeaten in six league matches and face a stern test of their promotion credentials this Saturday when they travel to Turf Moor to take on Championship leaders Burnley (3pm ko).

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