Goalkeeper Joao Virginia has endured a difficult start to life in the Championship after winning the Premier League 2 title with Everton.
Reading manager Jose Gomes has admitted that Everton loanee Joao Virginia cost his side in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Hull City at the KCom Stadium, speaking to GetReading.
As soon as Everton coach Marco Silva told the Liverpool Echo that the young goalkeeper had outgrown life in the reserves, it seemed only a matter of time before the Premier League 2 winner was offered a loan move away from Goodison Park. And in came Reading.
With fellow Portuguese Gomes at the helm of the Championship outfit, former Benfica and Arsenal starlet Virginia has been handed a chance to prove himself in the unforgiving world of senior football.
Yet it is fair to say he learned a harsh lesson against Hull. With just six minutes on the clock, Virginia was caught napping as a Kamil Grosicki effort deflected off his near post before rebounding for a grateful Jarrod Bowen to tap home with ease.
And the typically straight-talking Gomes, channelling his inner-Mourinho, was in no mood to sugarcoat things post-match.
“It was a mistake and one which cost us a goal. We cannot hide this,” he said. “But when you have a strong spirit in the team you can cover the mistakes of each other.”
At just 19, this will be a learning curve for a goalkeeper who’s talent and potential is certainly not in doubt. There is a reason why Virginia was Everton’s number one throughout the U23s’ double-winning season and he should return to Goodison Park in 12 months a far more mature footballer, ready to fight for Jordan Pickford’s place in the starting XI.
But he must respond, and fast, to win over the Reading faithful.
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