torquay away

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Jordan Obita and Lawson D'Ath have been handed squad numbers for the trip to Torquay.

[parky]

Jordan Obita and Lawson D'Ath have been handed squad numbers for trip to Torquay.

Doesn't mean they will play.

The Royals have handed squad numbers to 16-year-old Jordan Obita and 17-year-old Lawson D'Ath, and the duo will both be in our squad for Wednesday night's Carling Cup tie at Torquay.

Obita is an England youth international who only left school this summer to join the Royals on a full-time basis. He has been with our Academy for many years after being spotted by our scouting network, and was courted by a number of Premier League sides but committed himself to the club by signing full-time terms earlier this year. He is an attacking player who can play anywhere in midfield or up front and will take squad number 37.

D'Ath is an attacking central midfielder, and like Jordan he was born in Oxford. He first came to our Academy in March 2006 after being spotted by our scouting network. He began his scholarship with us last summer, and played 19(+4) games for our under 18s last season, scoring four goals, while also coming off the bench in a reserve game. He has been handed squad number 40.

Boss Brian McDermott will not risk Matt Mills, Jobi McAnuff and Shane Long for Wednesday evening's game, but Jem Karacan may be involved despite picking up a knock in Saturday's game with Scunthorpe.

Away on international duty are Adam Federici, Alex McCarthy, Mikkel Andersen, Jake Taylor, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Hal Robson-Kanu and Simon Church.

We are now playing people in the first team younger than me, didn't think that would happen for a while.

[Z175]

Internationals - Long, Sigurdsson, Church, Robson-Kanu, Federici, McCarthy, Andersen, Taylor
INJURED - Armstrong, Kelly, Mills, McAnuff, Long

Hamer

Williams
Pearce
Gunnarsson
Griffin

Kebe
Karacan
Tabb
Antonio

Hunt
Rasiak

Bench - Locke, J Mills, Howard, Bignall, Belle-Baggie, Obita, D'Arth.

We have a great shout of losing this one, considering our defence. They won 3-0 on saturday too.

[Turns8]

Hamer

Williams
Pearce
Griffin
Tabb

Kebe
Karacan
Howard
Antonio

Hunt
Rasiak

Bench - Locke, J Mills, Gunnarsson, Bignall, Belle-Baggie, Obita, D'Arth

[Hoop Blah]

Jordan Obita and Lawson D'Ath have been handed squad numbers for the trip to Torquay.

Pleased with that on one hand, but on the other it might just mean the injuries we sustained on Saturday are going to rule players out.

Not seen anything of Obita but I do like all the noises coming from various places about him.

[Ferris]

Ditto. Never heard of the other fella mind.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Heston has said specifically that McAnuff, Mills and Long will not be risked at Torquay (oh go on, take a chance on Long!).

Doubt Hunt will play, isn't he still crocked?

[The Prisoner]

Jobi McAnuff and Matt Mills injured. Obita and D'Ath due to be involved (according to OS - http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDet ... 73,00.html).

Struggling to pick an 11 in all fairness!

[ZacNaloen]

When's the last time Reading gave a squad number to a 16 year old?

[winchester_royal]

Peter Castle?

[savage 4 england]

Last was probably Peter Castle.

[Ferris]

Not sure if anyone's mentioned this, but could have been Peter Castle.

[paultheroyal]

When's the last time Reading gave a squad number to a 16 year old?

Peter Castle

[ZacNaloen]

Cheers guys, won't bother Reading anything into it then

[andrew1957]

I make it that if Hunt and Karacan are fit that we had 21 available players - even without D'Ath and Obita so it is strange they have been added so I think there are four possibilities.

1/ There are other injuries we are unaware of.
2/ Brian intends to rest most of the first teamers
3/ The likes of Davies are unavailable as they are about to move elsewhere. Is Bignall unavailable for reasons highlighted elsewhere.
4/The 18 year old group like Walcott, J.Mills, Rowe and Hector are not as good as the two even younger players

The team selected will tell us quite a lot.

[Hoop Blah]

I think it's more a case of point 2, that he can't risk more senior players.

It will also come down to who can play where or course, and giving these two squad numbers doesn't mean the other youngsters aren't in contention, it just means these guys are being added to those who already have squad numbers.

This could well be the youngest squad we've put out for a first team game for quite a time.

[Barry the bird boggler]

They have been given squad numbers because they are well ahead of others in the Academy in their age groups. They will travel with the squad most likely to give them experience of travelling away with the first team as much as anything.

Heston will rest players but I don't think the changes will actually differ that radically from the various team selections posted above. I would perhaps expect a fairly different subs bench, which is probably where D'Ath and Obita will fit in.

[comeonthebiscuitmen]

Is there any radio commentary of the game tonight?

[Upper West Ginger]

Is there any radio commentary of the game tonight?

No, but there might be tomorrow.

[It Is What It Is]

Jordan Obita and Lawson D'Ath have been handed squad numbers for the trip to Torquay.

Grew up at school with Beets', he's the year below me, absolutely killed every defender i've seen him come up against, guested for the his age groups rep team a few months back and was literally the man against the rest of the boys! Even if he got five minutes near the end of the match would prove his talentt