Ruiz strikes in bitter end for Reading
Fulham Reading
FULHAM boss Kit Symons insists Bryan Ruiz is fully committed to the club despite the fact the midfielder could walk away on a free transfer this summer.
The Costa Rican striker came off the bench to head home a stoppage-time winner and shatter Steve Clarke’s Reading at Craven Cottage.
The 29-year-old, who shook off a niggling injury to play, will be out of contract in six months and Symons knows the £10.6million signing could depart for nothing.
“I would think there is a chance, but there’s nothing for him at the moment,” the Welshman said when asked if he was resigned to Ruiz leaving.
“I had a good chat with Bryan on Friday and he’s very committed. He wants to be involved.
“He’s just come back from a little injury, so I involved him and he came on and scored the winner. I’m delighted.”
Fulham went ahead on 55 minutes when Sweden midfielder Alexander Kacaniklic – on his first start since returning from a loan spell at FC Copenhagen – scored his first goal for the club in over 14 months.
Equalised
Reading equalised eight minutes later when Pavel Pogrebnyak headed in his first league goal this term – against the club he scored six goals for while on loan in 2012.
Symons, who has recently brought back on-loan players Kacaniklic and fellow midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe, revealed that the moves were part of his strategy when he was appointed in late October.
“Alex and Ryan were out on loan. The original idea was for season-long loans, but as soon as I took over, one of the first things I said was ‘I want these boys back’,” Symons explained.
“They’re both good players. I know them well and they both have Championship experience, so for me it was a no-brainer.”
Reading manager Clarke was upset but saw positives in that Pogrebnyak scored again at last.
Clarke said: “Goalscorers thrive on goals and it was a fantastic header. Pav has been working hard. He’d been out for five and a half weeks before I came into the club.
“We’ve nursed him back. He got a good hour last week against Middlesbrough and he got longer this week. I thought he and Simon Cox ran themselves into the ground, which is why I made the late change.”