Yann is ready to push for a top six finish
READING v WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS MADEJSKI STADIUM SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY, 3PM
YANN KERMORGANT says Saturday’s visit of Wolves represents the perfect opportunity to show how much Reading have improved.
Wolves have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo and currently sit top of the Championship, while the Royals languish down in 18th.
However, Jaap Stam’s men did win each of their last two games before the international break, including an impressive 4-2 victory away to Derby County, and Kermorgant sees this weekend as another chance to show his side are ready to compete for a play-off spot again.
“Wolves are top and a really good team,” said the fit-again striker.
“To play them at home on Saturday is a good feeling for us because after the last few results, we can see if we have improved and if we can compete with the best. “For me, the top six is our target. “I’ve always been confident. We’ve had a poor start, but I think we can only get better.
“We look like we are showing that at the moment.
“If you look at the table, we’ve got one game in hand and if you can take the three points in that game, you are only five or six points from the top six, which is nothing when you consider the amount of games remaining.
“It’s clearly a gap you can fill and hopefully push for a top six finish.”
Kermorgant is hoping for his first start of the season after a freak training ground injury in July saw him undergo hip and groin surgery.
But there are still a number of players on the treatment table.
Stam confirmed that Vito Mannone is likely to be fit after a hip problem, while late decisions will be made on Liam Kelly, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Sone Aluko.
Callum Harriott (hamstring), George Evans (thigh) and Garath McCleary (groin) are all definitely out, but Tiago Ilori should return following concussion.
And after two wins, Stam admits he had mixed feeling about the international break.
“You always want to stay in that flow of getting results,” he said.
“That’s what everybody wants.
“But looking at the players who have got little knocks in the Forest game and against Derby, it’s good that these two weeks are there to bring them back into the squad.”
He added: “If you look at the results and how Wolves have been playing in the first period of the league, they’ve done very well.
“They are very consistent but it’s still a long way to go.
“They’ve got ability and a good side, but it’s difficult for me to say if they can keep that up.”