Reading FC boss Veljko Puanovic has offered his verdict on an immensely difficult last year as we head into 2022.

2021 saw Reading play behind closed doors with the ongoing pandemic, suffer a devastating injury crisis, have six points deduccted by the EFL, and see three games postponed recently due to a Covid outbreak at the club.

On the pitch, Reading sit just two points clear of the relegation zone heading into 2022. It's been a challenging 12 months for the world and in Berkshire it's been no different, something Puanovic highlighted when asked to relfect on 2021.

"Tough. Challenging. And an amazing experience," the mamage said in summation of the last year. "When we learn in school about examples of how to deal with adversity, this year has definitely been the best practical example of it. An experience that one can always rely on in the future especially if you were able to build with it. I think that would be the main thing.

"Some positives, yes, some positives. But also some negatives and I lost some very good friends in 2021 and 2020 also to Covid."

Reading are hoping to be back in action on Monday for their first game of the new year as Derby County travel to the Select Car Leasing Stadium.