CHELSEA LOANEE HECTOR IS STILL ROYAL

MICHAeL HeCTOR may technically be a Chelsea player, but the young defender displayed his commitment to Reading in more ways than one on Saturday. The Jamaica international, who sealed a £4million move to Stamford Bridge on deadline day last September before being loaned back to Reading for the season, scored the Royals’ second goal against West Brom when he headed in Oliver Norwood’s inswinging free-kick to put them 2-1 up. You could forgive the 23-year-old for getting carried away with his impending return to Chelsea — particularly with John Terry’s future at the club in doubt — but Hector is in no hurry to cut ties with the Berkshire club. ‘I still feel I am a Reading player,’ Hector said. ‘The club means a lot to me. They gave me a chance but to play against Premier League opposition — that is where you want to play week in, week out — and it is good to test yourself against West Brom.’ There will be a further topflight test for Hector and Reading after they drew Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals and a chance to land a trip to Wembley. The player himself might be keeping both feet firmly on the ground, but manager Brian McDermott was quick to laud Hector’s performance in a rare central-midfield berth. ‘I thought Michael was outstanding,’ McDermott began. ‘He is going to Chelsea in the summer and I told him that it is another string to your bow. The way he played, he can play for Chelsea in that role, no problem. ‘I spoke to Chelsea and I said, “Look he is playing this role and he is playing it really well”. If he can play centre half and play in that holding role as well as he has done, then it is good for them and his future.’

SUPER STAT: Reading are highest scorers in this season’s FA Cup so far with 14 goals.

READING (4-1-4-1): Al Habsi 6; Gunter 6, McShane 7, Cooper 6.5, Obita 6; Hector 7.5; Robson-Kanu 7, Norwood 8, Quinn 6.5 (Piazon 90), Rakels 6 (John 59, 7); Cox 6 (Vydra 59, 6.5). Subs not used: Bond, McCleary, Ferdinand, Barrett.

Scorers: McShane 59, Hector 72, Piazon 90.

WEST BROM (4-2-3-1): Foster 6; Chester 6, Evans 5, Olsson 5, Brunt 6; Sandro 6, Fletcher 7; Sessegnon 6 (Pritchard 82), Berahino 5, McClean 5 (Anichebe 75, 5); Rondon 5.

Subs not used: Myhill, Gardner, Yacob, Lambert, Pocognoli. Booked: Evans. Scorer: Fletcher 54.

Man of the match: Oliver Norwood. Referee: Anthony Taylor 7.