Reading v Aston Villa preview
Monday 14 August 2017 15:36, UK
Leandro Bacuna could face familiar opponents on his Reading debut against former club Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
Bacuna joined the Royals on Sunday on a four-year deal from Villa and there is no gentleman's agreement to prevent him playing against his former club so long as the paperwork is completed in time.
Midfielder Garath McCleary and Roy Beerens could be back in the squad after returning to first-team training. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Jordan Obita. Yann Kermorgant, Tennai Watson and Callum Harriott remain out.
Ahmed Elmohamady is out for Aston Villa after suffering a mouth injury - which could need surgery - against Cardiff. The 29-year-old was forced off just half-an-hour into Saturday's 3-0 defeat following a collision with Bluebirds keeper Neil Etheridge.
He adds to Villa's injury list which already includes Jonathan Kodjia, still out with a broken ankle he suffered at the end of last season. Midfielder Mile Jedinak is also a week away from being available after undergoing groin surgery during the summer, while Jack Grealish has been ruled out for three months with kidney damage and Andre Green (groin) will be assessed.
Opta stats
Aston Villa have won 10 of their 12 league clashes with Reading (L2). However, one of those wins for the Royals came last time out, with Joseph Mendes scoring a brace in 3-1 victory, his first goals in English league football.
Aston Villa have only kept three clean sheets in their last 20 away league matches, including conceding three in their last outing when they lost 3-0 to Cardiff City.
Reading have lost just one league match at the Madjeski Stadium in 2017 (0-1 to QPR in January) and lost only two in the Championship last season - the best return in the entire division.
Liam Kelly has scored three goals in his last two appearances for Reading in all competitions, two more than he managed in his first 35 games for the Royals.
Prutton's prediction
Aston Villa need a result here. They were awful at Cardiff on Saturday and they've got to snap into gear at some stage. It was always going to be a tough game and Reading will be a tricky one for Steve Bruce's side as well.
Reading will think they can take advantage of a Villa side that haven't gelled yet and get a first league win of the season themselves. And I fancy them to do just that.
Prutton predicts: 2-0 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
