Fulham’s Reserve Team is in action against Reading on Tuesday evening at Motspur Park (Kick Off 7pm).
Reading, the reigning champions, have lost only twice to date – at home to Fulham in September, when goals from Moritz Volz and Collins John were enough to secure all three points and away to West Ham last week.
Goals are not something the Royals are in short supply of having only failed to score once this season and putting no fewer than 11 past Birmingham during their two matches against them, including a 6-0 triumph at Solihull Moors. Five goals were also scored in the home game against Derby.
The Royals have a tradition of putting out experienced players in reserve games, though three promising academy prospects involved in recent reserve action are Tom Hateley, Julian Kelly and Patrick Cox. The goalkeeping slot is shared between Danish youth international Mikkel Andersen who joined the club from AB Copenhagen last January and Australian Adam Federici who a couple of months ago found himself beaten by a spectacular Jimmy Bullard effort in a private friendly between the clubs, just before Christmas which finished 1-1.
Defensively Reading have young prospects in central defender Alex Pearce who enjoyed a successful loan spell with Bournemouth earlier this season as did Aaron Brown, a player who missed the entirety of last season through injury having been signed from Tamworth in 2005. Whilst with the Lambs, Aaron appeared for the England Non-League side.
More familiar names appearing in recent line-ups are Liam Rosenior, who, of course, joined the Royals from Fulham back in August. Andre Bikey, Ulises de la Cruz and former Everton and Sunderland midfielder John Oster have also appeared for Reading’s second string. One exciting young prospect is flying winger James Henry who made his first team debut in the Carling Cup against Liverpool earlier this season
Up front Shane Long and Leroy Lita have both appeared recently with Lita hitting the winner in a 2-1 success at Chelsea; since then Lita secured a loan move to Charlton Athletic for the rest of the season. Other first team squad members to appear in recent games were Michael Duberry, Bobby Convey and Ibrahima Sonko.
