Yakou Meite nearing Reading FC return after U23s start

Meite has missed the entire season so far after suffering a torn ACL in June. An initial approximate timeline had given Meite a chance to return in February or March but as is always the case with such a serious injury, setbacks are a very real risk.

Instead though, Meite is ahead of schedule and was fit enough to start and play the first half of the U23s 4-1 defeat to to Aston Villa on Monday evening after working his way back onto the grass in recent weeks.

Speaking to the Reading Chronicle in December, the Ivory Coast international explained just how hard he’s been working in his rehabilitation.

Yakou Meite poses during the Reading kit launch. Image by: JasonPIX

"In my head, because I’ve been working every day, I don’t even want to go somewhere for one or two weeks because I'd feel like I’m losing time before I come back on the pitch," Meite said. 

"I don’t want to come back (from holiday) and for them to say ‘okay because you’ve been out, we need to go again and start from what we did before you left.’ I’m just here trying to push."

In addition though, Meite cautioned fans to be patient with him, aware of how tough it is to return from such a long-term injury.

“I think a lot of people expect us (Meite and Lucas Joao) to change the team offensively but don’t forget that I’ve been injured for a long time, Lucas as well, so I think we will need time to adjust and come back fit. It’s not an excuse, I want to be as fit as I can straight away from the first game, but I know that it will be difficult." 

Meite played 25 times for Reading in the Championship last season, scoring 12 goals and his absence has been a huge miss for Veljko Paunovic's beleagured side.

Reading are back in action this weekend when they head to West London to take on QPR. The game will likely come too soon for Meite but there is very real reason to expect his return in the coming weeks.