Gareth Southgate has announced his 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The tournament, due to start in less than two weeks, is taking place in Qatar and features players such as Ben White, Jude Bellingham and Kalvin Phillips who were playing in the Championship as recently as 2020?

But when did they last play Reading?

GOALKEEPERS

Jordan Pickford (Preston North End) - Saturday, December 12, 2015

The England number one has not played Reading in seven years, when the Royals failed to score past him in net for the Lilywhites. Joe Garner’s goal was the difference, with Martin Kuhl in temporary charge following the dismissal of Steve Clarke.

Nick Pope (Charlton Athletic)- Saturday, October 17, 2015

A matter of months before facing Pickford, Reading had gotten the better of another future England star in Pope.

A late Nick Blackman strike was the difference against the ten-men Addicks, moving the Royals into second in the Championship.

Aaron Ramsdale- N/A

 

DEFENDERS

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool Under-23)- Monday, March 3, 2017

The 24-year-old wing-back has never played Reading in a full fixture, so youth matches will have to count. A 5-1 hammering for the Reds over five years ago was the last time ‘TAA’ lined up against the Royals.

Conor Coady (Wolves)- Tuesday, March 18, 2018

Wolves eased past Reading 3-0 at Molineux on their way to the Championship title, completing the double over Jaap Stam’s relegation threatened side.

Eric Dier (Tottenham)- Saturday, August 28, 2020

A behind-closed-doors friendly which the hosts comfortably won 4-1.

It was remembered for being Mark Bowen's final match in charge before Veljko Paunovic stepped in.

Harry Maguire (Hull City)- Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Steve Bruce’s Tigers came from behind at the Madejski Stadium to win 2-1 and keep chase with the promotion challenges, eventually winning the play-off final in May. The Royals were marooned in 15th, counting down the matches to the end of the season.

Luke Shaw (Southampton)- Sunday, April 6, 2013

Almost a decade ago teenage sensation Shaw was lining up at the Madejski Stadium for the 2-0 win which all-but confirmed the Royals’ relegation back to the Championship at the first attempt.

John Stones (Everton)- Tuesday, September 22, 2015

The centre-back was a highly thought of youngster when he was part of the Everton side to knock Reading out of the League Cup in 2015. Blackman’s strike saw the Royals take the lead, but Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu turned the game on its head.

Kyle Walker (Tottenham)- Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Another near decade long wait, Kyle Walker started in Spurs’ 3-1 win over Reading on New Years Day. Pavel Pogrebnyak gave the Royals an early lead at White Hart Lane, but Michael Dawson, Emmanuel Adebayor and Clint Dempsey secured the win.

Ben White (Leeds United)- Saturday, February 22, 2020

One of the final matches before the Covid-19 shut-down, Ben White kept a clean sheet as Leeds continued their march to promotion with a 1-0 win. Three Reading players that started at Elland Road are still regulars under Paul Ince.

MIDFIELDERS

Jude Bellingham (Birmingham City)- Saturday, March 7, 2020

The final game before the pandemic enforced break, Reading turned a deficit into a lead at St Andrew’s, beating Bellingham’s Blues 3-1 in the Second City.

Conor Gallagher (Swansea City)- Wednesday, July 22, 2020

A remarkable game during the ‘Project Restart’ to round up the 2019/20 season, Swansea scored three goals in the final 25 minutes to leapfrog Nottingham Forest into the play-offs with the final kick of the game.

Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)- Saturday, April 13, 2013

An inspired performance from Academy graduate Alex McCarthy in goal saw Reading battle to a goalless draw with Brendan Rodgers’ Reds.

Mason Mount (Chelsea)- Saturday, July 28, 2019

Mount has scored on his two visits to the SCL Stadium, a late winner for Derby County in 2018 and two in a pre-season friendly for parent club Chelsea.

Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United)- Saturday, February 22, 2020

Involved in the same match as Ben White, the holding midfielder has become one of the best in his position in the world for England and Manchester City.

Declan Rice (West Ham)- Saturday, July 16, 2022

The most recent in the squad, Rice played the second half of a 1-1 draw in pre-season between the Royals and the Hammers.

FORWARDS

Phil Foden- N/A

Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)- Saturday, August 25, 2018

A last-gasp Sam Baldock penalty rescued a point for Paul Clement’s Reading at Villa Park. Grealish, one of the most expensive players of all time, was pulling the strings behind Jonathan Kodjia in the Second City.

Harry Kane (Millwall)- Saturday, March 2, 2012

The England captain was on loan with the Lions as the Royals rampaged to the title in 2012.

Falling behind at the Den, Hal Robson-Kanu and Adam Le Fondre turned the game on its head.

James Maddison (Norwich City)- Saturday, September 30, 2017

It took Maddison just 10 minutes to score at the Madejski Stadium in 2017. Curling a free kick into the back of the net and setting the Canaries on their way to promotion.

Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)- Saturday, January 5, 2019

Coming on in the second half, the game was already 2-0 by half-time and that was how it finished at Old Trafford.

Bukayo Saka (Arsenal Under-18s)- Sunday, September 23, 2017

Having never played Reading in a full fixture, he played 80 minutes as Arsenal Under-18s thrashed the Royals 4-0.

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)- Saturday, October 20, 2013

Raheem Sterling scored his first goal for Liverpool inside the opening half hour against Reading in a 1-0 win at Anfield. Failing to play the 0-0 draw in April, it is his one and only appearance against the Royals.

Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)- Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Taking just four minutes to score at the Madejski Stadium, Wilson’s goals fired the Cherries into the Premier League for the first time that season- the striker remaining there ever since.