Published: Wednesday, 1st April, 2009 12:15pm

Duberry puts faith in Kelly

by Anthony Smith

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MICHAEL Duberry is confident Julian Kelly can fill Reading's right-back problem ahead of their trip to Coventry City this Saturday (3pm ko).

Liam Rosenior begins a two-match ban for being sent off during Royals' 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace recently.

It was his second red card of the season and the 23-year-old will now miss the clash at the Ricoh Arena plus the crucial home game with promotion rivals Sheffield United on Good Friday.

Rosenior also underwent surgery last week after breaking his hand in the Selhurst Park stalemate.

With skipper Graeme Murty still sidelined with a calf injury, the door has now opened for 19-year-old Kelly who has made only the one league start so far this season which came in his side's momentous 1-0 home victory over Championship leaders Wolves back in January.

But centre-back Duberry insisted: "Julian has come in and done well in the past. He's a young lad but he had a good head on him and he's very quick up and down that touchline.

"Liam has been excellent for us but I believe our squad is strong enough to cope with any disruption.

"If Julian plays well for the next couple of games then he may even keep the shirt.

"But whatever route the manager takes I'm sure that whoever he picks will do a good job for us."

Royals also have injury concerns over Brynjar Gunnarsson who was forced to withdraw from Iceland's squad with a hamstring injury.

There were nine first-team players on international duty last weekend and Duberry argued: "I think the break was a good thing, especially for someone with my old legs.

"It's important to have a breather, our team spirit has been strong recently and I think we're getting it back together.

"We've put to rest some bad results earlier in the season and hopefully when we're all back in training our heads will be right so that we can go to Coventry looking for another win."

Royals are unbeaten in five games away from home and go into this weekend trailing Birmingham City by four points but with a game in hand.

"Everyone is looking forward to last seven games," added Duberry. "We've gone back to basics and are taking things one game at a time.

"Rather than looking at the finish line we're just concentrating on the next hurdle and if we go to Coventry with the same attitude we showed at Crystal Palace I'm sure we will get a positive result."

The other Reading players who have been on international duty are Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt, Shane Long and Noel Hunt (all Republic of Ireland), Andre Bikey (Cameroon), Marcus Hahnemann (USA), Adam Federici (Australia), Kalifa Cisse (Mali) and Marek Matejovsky (Czech Republic).

Bikey, 24, has forced his way back into the Steve Coppell's side recently and the central defender has responded to rumours suggesting he wants to leave in the summer by pledging his future to the Royals.

"I don't want to leave Reading right now," declared the It's my third year here and we are fighting to get back into the Premier League.

"It's much better to stay here and fight for my place and keep looking forward rather than go to another team where I would have to start again.

"I have two years remaining on my contract and all I want to achieve is to get back in the Premier League and then see what happens."

ROYALS skipper Graeme Murty has been honoured with the Football League's Player in the Community Award in recognition of his charity work.

Murty, 34, is heavily involved in a number of local charities including Swings and Smiles and he plans to donate a chunk of his testimonial earnings to local groups.

"Seeing the sacrifices parents with special needs children make was one reason I wanted my testimonial year to include charities," he said.

But there was no celebration for Royals striker Kevin Doyle who was runner-up to Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in the battle to become the Championship's Player of the Season.

Reading's website was also highly commended in the best communications category.

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