Church and Long in Royals boost.

Anthony Smith • Published 16 Dec 2009 08:00 4 Comments

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READING are set to welcome back strike duo Simon Church and Shane Long for Saturday's trip to Bristol City (3pm ko).

Church has missed the last two games with a back injury while Long is available for selection again after serving a three match ban.

Now both will almost certainly be involved in the weekend's clash at Ashton Gate after Brendan Rodgers was left with only one fit recognised striker - Grzegorz Rasiak - for last weekend's 1-1 home draw with Scunthorpe United.

Football consultant Frank Lampard snr confirmed: "They're both going to be available and Longy has been working very hard while he's been out through suspension.

"He looks very sharp and Brendan may decide to throw him straight in.

"After dropping points at home on the weekend we've got to be looking at three points down there.

"Christmas is an important time with games coming thick and fast so we've got to be on our mettle and we need to start wrapping up some points and get away from the area of the table we're in now and up to mid-table.

"We want to be looking up rather than at who is behind us."

Rasiak scored his sixth goal of the season in the draw with Scunny but Rodgers' side squandered a string of chances before the visitors grabbed a late equaliser through Gary Hooper.

"It was disappointing because we played some of our best football for a while but Scunthorpe equalised at the end," added Lampard.

"We were a bit naive. We've a difficult time at home results wise so we should do better than that and close the game out and come off with a clean sheet and thee points."

Meanwhile, Iceland striker Gunnar Thorvaldsson, is back training with Rodgers' squad for the second time and Royals are close to agreeing a fee with Danish Superliga club Esbjerg.

The 27-year-old is likely to arrive on loan in January then sign a permanent deal next summer.

"He looked good when he came over a couple of weeks ago to train and he's been offered the chance to come here," explained Lampard.

"Time will tell but he looks a good player. It's very important that football clubs have strikers and it would be nice to have five or six here, that's our ambition one day. Every club needs plenty of them around.

"With Longy back and Churchy fit it would be nice to be in a situation where you can take two strikers off a put two on, home or away. That's the luxury you need really."

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Johnno
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Dec 16, 09:33
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Come on U Royals

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Mike
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Dec 16, 09:42
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Churchy gets my vote

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Royalistic
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Dec 16, 09:44
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We can win this!

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Mick
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Dec 16, 09:50
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Glad that Shane Long will be back

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