READING FC hitman Jon Dadi Bodvarsson is determined to prove he should be one of the first names on Paul Clement’s team sheet, writes Courtney Friday.

The ice-cool striker has scored five league goals in eight appearances so far this season and was on target in last weekend’s victory against Hull City which secured Royals’ first home win since April.

Despite playing in what has been an under-performing team, Bodvarsson is already just two shy of equalling the seven league goals he managed last campaign.

He scored Royals’ second goal in a 3-0 win over Nigel Adkins’ Tigers on Saturday having been recalled to the starting line-up for the first time since suffering a mysterious illness that landed him in hospital two weeks ago.

And the former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward wants to prove to Clement he should be in his first-team plans every week.

“As a striker, you can’t ask for a better start to the season,” stated the Icelandic international.

“Of course you want to start every game, that’s my mentality.

“But that’s up to the gaffer to decide. There’s nothing you can control.

“All I can do is work hard in training, perform well and show that I should be in the starting eleven.”

Reading Chronicle:

Sam Baldock gave Reading an early lead against Hull.

Clement bolstered his attacking options over the summer with the signings of Marc McNulty from Coventry City for £1m and Sam Baldock from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion for around £2m.

Bodvarsson continued: “There’s a lot of positive competition for places going on right now.

“There were a lot of changes for the Hull game and I thought the lads who haven’t been playing regularly did really well.”

Royals’ win over former boss Adkins’ Hull was their first home league win of the season following a club record four straight defeats.

They now turn their attention to a tough fixture against Brentford at Griffin Park this Saturday (3pm ko) followed by a home clash against QPR next Tuesday (8pm ko).

Reading have already sold out their 1,800 ticket allocation for Saturday’s clash, and Bodvarsson urged his teammates to snatch back-to-back wins for the first time in 2018.

“Winning on Saturday is such a huge confidence boost,” he concluded. “When things aren’t going well confidence can drop.

“We played well but now we need to make winning a habit.”

John O’Shea will serve the first of a three-match suspension this Saturday following his red card against Hull.

Tiago Ilori could return to centre-back in his place, with Chris Gunter slotting back in at right-back.

However, Tyler Blackett is also available and could get the nod ahead of Gunter.

Paul McShane, Dave Edwards, Jordan Obita and Vito Mannone remain sidelined with injury, while Garath McCleary and Callum Harriott are nearing returns, but may not be ready for Saturday.