How Reading could line-up on opening day of 22-23 Championship season

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Paul Ince was appointed permanent manager of Reading in May after undertaking a 14-game caretaker spell in charge of the Royals.

The former Manchester United midfielder guided the Berkshire-based club to safety in the Championship having finished 21st in the table and four points above the relegation zone.

From his 14 games in caretaker charge, the 54-year-old, who has managed the likes of MK Dons, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool and Notts County having started his coaching career with Macclesfield Town, won four, drew three and lost seven.

Now the former England international has took the reins at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on a permanent basis and Ince has already set about assembling his squad.

Reading start their tenth consecutive campaign in the Championship with a trip to Blackpool on Saturday, 30 July.

HITC Sport takes a look at how Reading could line-up for the clash against Michael Appleton’s Seasiders.

How Reading could line-up

Joe Lumley looks set to be Ince’s number one having joined from Middlesbrough on a season-long loan.

The 27-year-old made 39 appearances last season and he was part of the Boro side that beat Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup.

Last season’s Player of the Year Alan Yiadom has been named the club’s new captain and the Ghana international will be hoping to lead by example at right-back.

Tom Holmes could be joined in the heart of defence by current trialist Sam Hutchinson who is training with the Royals during pre-season following his release from Sheffield Wednesday.

The 32-year-old, who came through the Chelsea academy, made 31 appearances for the Owls last season.

After spending last season on loan at Reading, Ince could look to take Chelsea’s forgotten man Baba Rahman from the Blues once again.

The Ghana international left-back cost the west London side £20million back in 2015 after signing from German side Augsburg.

But the 28-year-old hasn’t played for the Stamford Bridge side for over six years. The Irish Sun are reporting that Reading are interested in re-signing Rahman who made 29 Championship appearances last season.

With the influential John Swift, who scored 11 goals and laid on 13 assists last season, no longer at the club after he joined West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer following the expiry of his Reading deal, Ince has already brought in some midfield reinforcements.

Republic of Ireland international Jeff Hendrick has arrived on a season-long loan from Newcastle United and he’ll add quality, bite and experience to Reading’s engine room.

The former Burnley man could be joined in midfield by fellow Premier League loanee Tyrese Fornah who arrives from Nottingham Forest after a loan spell with Shrewsbury Town last season.

The 22-year-old doesn’t have anywhere near as the same experience as Hendrick, but the pair could strike up a fruiftful partnership if Ince opts to go with the youngster who has just one Championship appearance to his name.

Ince’s son Tom will occupy the right-wing position and hope to spearhead his dad side’s charge by cutting inside off the touchline and contributing a wealth of goals and assists.

The 30-year-old has struggled for consistency in recent years but maybe playing under his old man could help Ince rediscover the form that saw him net double figures in four Championship campaigns.

Canada international Junior Hoilett could occupy the left-wing position having joined Reading from Cardiff City last summer.

Like Ince, Hoilett was another player that was tipped for stardom but at the age of 32 he hasn’t lived up to his burgeoning potential.

The pair are capable of being matchwinners but they can also equally go missing in games, Ince’s job will be to bring the best out of the talented pair.

Aside from Swift, Lucas Joao was the only other Reading player to hit double figures in the Championship last season with him netting ten times.

After scoring 19 Championship goals during the 2020-21 season, the 28-year-old will be targeting further goals ahead of the new season.

Reading’s number 18 could be joined upfront by former Royals star Shane Long.

The 35-year-old is a free agent following his release from Southampton and he could be set for a return to Berkshire.

In his six years at Reading, the Republic of Ireland international scored 54 goals, 23 of which came in the 2010-11 Championship season.

Long still possesses his pace and he’d bring an injection of firepower to Ince’s side which would help mitigate the loss of Swift.