PAUL Clement has made it his personal challenge to get the best out of much-maligned winger Sone Aluko.

Royals’ record signing is struggling to recapture the sparkling form that made him a big hit at Fulham and Hull City.

A growing number of Reading fans have been calling on Clement to drop the 29-year-old in favour of on-loan Southampton winger, Josh Sims.

But Royals’ boss is determined to help Aluko reach his full potential again.

“He’s a really good player but is struggling for consistency,” stated Clement. “That’s how it’s been since I’ve been here.

“When I go to a new club I judge it as I see and try and get the best out of everybody.

“I know he’s got ability from his time at Hull and Fulham where he was a really good player.

“I’ve got to help get that out of him. There are lots of ways of doing that and hopefully, sooner rather than later, I will help Sone find that consistency with his performances.

“At the same time there are a lot of other players pushing him who have done well when they’ve got on the pitch.

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Josh Sims has impressed since his loan move from Saints.

“Josh Sims has come on and made a real difference on occasions including the winning goal at Preston and winning the penalty against Aston Villa. He’s shown a really good attitude.

“I think it was the right decision for Josh to come here. He’s getting more playing time than he was at Southampton and he’ll continue to do that.

“We’ve also got Garath McCleary now so there is real competition for places.

“I want to get the best out of all my players but can only pick 11.

“I don’t want to banish anybody because things can quickly change, a player can find form or another gets injured. I work with everybody and try and be fair and honest.”

Aluko’s career took off north of the border following spells with Aberdeen and Rangers.

He was snapped up by Hull in 2012 and scored 15 times in 108 games before moving to Fulham in summer 2016.

He enjoyed a short but stellar spell with the Cottagers with nine goals in 54 appearances and featured in their Championship play-off semi final defeat by Reading in May 2017.

Former Royals boss Jaap Stam then lured Aluko to Madejski Stadium shortly before the 2017 summer transfer window shut in a reported £6m deal, though the club insist the fee was not that much.

Aluko, who has won seven caps for Nigeria, played 40 games and scored three times last season as Royals narrowly avoided relegation to League One.

This season he is yet to score in eight appearances and was an unused substitute for the 4-1 loss at West Brom last time out – Reading’s heaviest defeat of the campaign.

Reading Chronicle:

Reading boss Paul Clement.

Aluko is likely to start on the bench again tomorrow for the vital home clash with fellow strugglers Millwall, for which Clement is facing a number of injury problems.

But the Reading manager is refusing to give up on Aluko, saying: “It’s a complicated matter, but we’re working hard.

“Based on what Sone has shown in the past, there’s no reason it won’t come back, maybe not just like that, but he’s been around the game a long time.

“He’s not bereft of confidence, he comes into training positive and working hard, there is never a problem with his attitude. Sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves and get on with it.”