Former Reading captain Jem Karacan believes forward Yakou Meite could be the difference for the Royals this season.

Karacan spent over 20 years in the set-up in Reading, playing over 170 matches before going on to play for Bolton Wanderers and Millwall.

Now occasionally covering the club for BBC Berkshire, the midfielder believes there is no reason why the club can't aim high after the start.

"Minimum they’d be looking at staying up now after the start they have had, but if they can be in and around mid-table, you’re only ever two or three wins from the play-off area," he said. "Looking at the team man-for-man, there’s no reason why they can’t stay around the play-offs. There’s been a lot of injuries but hopefully they can get the lads back on the pitch."

Reading Chronicle:

"Yakou Meite is a quality player who has always done well for the club. I don’t think there are many better than Yakou. Every time I’ve seen him, he’s been a powerhouse. He’s coming back from a long knee injury, and I know better than anyone how that feels, so this break might do wonders for him. If the club are to do well, someone like Yakou is the reason."

Ivorian Meite, who joined the club back in 2016, is one of the longest-serving players in the side.

With 41 goals, nobody has scored more second tier goals for the Royals since 2004 than the fan favourite.

"I think if the club were given the option of being where they are in the league, everyone would have snatched your hand off," he added. "Recruitment has been really good. There’s been ups and downs but that was always going to happen.

"The group are growing together. When you’ve got Academy lads who love the club, like Tom Holmes and Tom McIntyre, they might not be the most experienced, but they make up for that in the desire to do well for the club. At the other end of the pitch, you’ve got lads who have been doing well and sticking the ball in the net."