Injured Mills in Forest fitness race

Anthony Smith • Published 19 Aug 2010 13:30 0 Comments

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MATT Mills insists Reading do not need bring in defensive reinforcements - even if he is forced to miss Saturday’s home clash with Nottingham Forest through injury (3pm ko).

Royals’ stand-in skipper suffered a serious blow to his ankle during Reading’s surprise defeat to Scunthorpe United a fortnight ago.

And with captain Ivar Ingimarsson still nursing his way back from surgery, serious concerns were raised about the strength of the back four.

However, Mills is confident Royals’ squad can cope, with Brynjar Gunnarsson set to partner Alex Pearce again at centre-back if he fails a fitness test.

Mills, 24, said: “There is always the option to sign someone. But if you look at our results and the way Bryn has played there is no reason to suggest we need to sign someone.

“Bryn has done well and I had no doubt he would slot in and do a good job. He’s done it before and he’s a class player.

“The worst case scenario is I’ll be out another week or so and I think Ivar Ingimarsson is also close to fitness. So I would say we’re already past the point of bringing someone in.”

However, Mills has not given up hope of making Brian McDermott’s starting XI on Saturday and his injury will be assessed tomorrow (Friday).

“I’m coming along nicely,” he explained. “I tried my hardest to get back for the Portsmouth game but I wasn’t right.

“So I’ve been working hard with the physios and if my scan is fine I should be looking good.

“I got the injury when I came down from a header and all the weight went through the outside of my foot. I’ve been doing a lot of swimming to get the swelling and bruising down but we pounced on it early enough and it should be okay.”

Mills will be secretly hoping he does make the grade this weekend to face opponents he very nearly joined.

But a possible move to the City Ground was clocked by his former club Doncaster Rovers, who then sold him to Reading for £2 million last summer.

“There was a chance of going there but I don’t think the Doncaster chairman was prepared to let me go to what he called a rival club at the time,” he recalled.

“So whatever Forest offered me was annulled by the chairman which was a strange situation. But it was my gain and hopefully Reading’s gain.

“I’ve had a great last six months and an amazing pre-season so I was disappointed to pick up the knock. But hopefully this is my one injury for the season out of the way.

“Forest is a massive game. They’ve had a similar start as us, it’s a big three points up for grabs and fingers crossed I’ll be there.”

Jay Tabb has already been ruled out of Saturday’s game with a recurring ankle problem, though striker Shane Long has a chance of recovering from a bruised hip.

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