`Rested' Ivar targets cup glory

Anthony Smith • Published 24 Feb 2010 07:00 0 Comments

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IVAR Ingimarsson has revealed the real reason behind his recent absence as the Reading skipper looks to make his comeback in tonight's FA Cup fifth round replay at West Bromwich Albion (7.45pm ko)

The 32-year-old talismanic defender has missed the last two games and has not featured since the 2-2 home draw against the Baggies in the original tie at Madejski Stadium.

Concerns were raised when reports suggested he could be suffering from an illness, but Royals have since quashed that rumour.

And Ingimarsson insists his omission was purely innocent: "It was a good rest, nothing more really.

"I missed Crystal Palace where we had a very good result and the manger normally doesn't change a winning team.

"So he said that instead of travelling to Blackpool on Saturday to sit on the bench, that I should take a few days off instead."

And he stressed: "I told myself a needed a rest. Since I came back from injury in September I've played almost every game.

"The New Year was hectic with lots of FA Cup games plus we've had something like eight matches in a row recently including midweeks.

"Things were going well and everyone was playing well but I thought it was going to be difficult to finish eight games on the spin like that.

"So I spoke to the manager and suggested he kept me in mind if there was a chance to have one game off. It happened to be two games but that's no problem."

Ingimarsson will reclaim his place tonight from Blackburn loan defender Zurab Khizanishvili who is cup tied.

Royals boss Brian McDermott will make a late call on striker Simon Church and midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson who were both injured in the 2-0 Championship defeat at Blackpool last weekend.

And Ingimarsson is desperate to see Reading continue their sensational cup run for as long as possible.

McDermott's men have already knocked out Liverpool and Burnley and if they can squeeze past West Brom it will be the first time the club has reached the quarter finals since 1926/27.

"I'm ready and looking forward to it," declared the Icelandic star. "I've never been this far in the competition before and you never know when these opportunities will come again.

"Everyone has to take it very seriously and to keep the momentum going because we've had very good results this year other than our last game at Blackpool and we want to go on another run.

"We've come this far and you look at the teams left in there and think `why not dream about it'.

"It's a good opportunity. West Brom are a very good team but we're definitely going to go for it."

Around 2,000 Reading fans are expected to make the trip to the Hawthorns with a home tie against either Aston Villa or Crystal Palace awaiting the winners in the next round.

Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo could welcome back fit-again James Morrison and Marek Cech, but Giles Barnes and Ishmael Miller are unlikely to make it while loan signings Frank Nouble and Ben Watson are cup tied and Jerome Thomas is suspended.

Meanwhile, Ingimarsson revealed he is no nearer to a resolving his contract wrangle with Reading.

His current deal expires this summer and Royals are only offering a one-year extension.

"There's nothing new - I haven't spoken to them and they haven't spoken to me," he stated.

"As it stands my contract will run out in the summer and I will look at my options."

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