Reading defender Tom McIntyre believes his team can fly under the radar this season, with many having already written them off.

With an injury crisis rendering almost half of the first team squad unavailable and a transfer embargo making it incredibly difficult to sign any new players- many pundits and supporters have Paul Ince's side as one of the favourites for the drop this year.

However, with an early win against Cardiff City and a positive performance in defeat to Blackpool, the 23-year-old feels his teammates have more to offer than some suggest.

Speaking to the media before a trip to Rotherham Unuted, the Academy graduate said: "I know a lot of people have written us off. I don’t think that’s particularly a bad thing, but I’ve seen all sorts of predictions and it takes the pressure off us knowing people aren’t expecting much from us. It’s probably a good thing and something we can use as a drive.

"In our mind we will g out and give any team a good game, always trying to get the three points no matter who we’re playing. We’re all quietly confident as a group and that’s all we’re listening to. If anything, it’s brought the group closer together."

One addition that has brought the club and supporters together was Shane Long.

The Irishman returned to Berkshire after 11 years away, notching the first goal of his second spell on Saturday against the Bluebirds.

Reading Chronicle:

McIntyre, a boyhood Reading season ticket holder, could hardly mask his joy at seeing a club legend return.

Starstruck, along with fellow Academy graduate Tom Holmes, the pair told the Republic of Ireland international how they felt.

"We both said to each other 'shall we just tell him' so yeah as much as we were trying to play it cool we were both buzzing. I actually walked in the first day and Tom Holmes is sat at his [Shane Long] place having a selfie and I was like 'you need to chill out'.

"It's special for us really because we grew up watching him and it's like anything really, if you watch something as a kid and then you actually get to play with them, it's special. 

"It gives everyone a lift, I sensed that from the crowd and myself really."