Theo Walcott was handed a chance to impress in the Arsenal starting line-up for this afternoon’s Premier League clash with relegation battlers Reading at Emirates Stadium.

Reading have no new injury worries ahead of their Saturday lunchtime trip to Arsenal.

Reading welcome back midfielder Marek Matejovsky for tomorrow’s home game with Fulham after the Czech international served a one-match ban.

AFTER Newcastle recorded a third successive victory for the first time this season, confirming their Premier League status in the process, the club’s manager, Kevin Keegan, joked that Ronaldinho was on his reserve list of leading summer targets.

Reading will be without Marek Matejovsky for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Newcastle as the midfielder serves a one-match ban following his sending off against Blackburn last week.

Steve Coppell named an unchanged side as Reading, on their best run of form this season, look to pull clear of the relegation zone with a victory over Blackburn today.

Reading will check on the fitness of Jimmy Kebe ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn at the Madejski Stadium after the winger picked up a knock on international duty with Mali.

Reading have no new injury worries ahead of tomorrow’s visit of fellow Barclays Premier League strugglers Birmingham.

Reading welcome back defenders Ivar Ingimarsson (ban) and Andre Bikey (international duty) for this weekend’s Premier League visit of Aston Villa.

Reading welcome back strikers Shane Long and Dave Kitson for tomorrow's visit of Bolton.

Reading will be without striker Shane Long (ban), midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) and defender Michael Duberry (knee) for Wednesday night’s trip to Chelsea.

Owen Hargreaves returns to the Manchester United side for today's Premier League trip to Reading after recovering from a rib injury.

Reading will be without defender Michael Duberry (knee) for tomorrow’s visit of Manchester United.

Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson was not in the squad for the FA Cup third-round replay at Reading as his wife gave birth to a boy on the eve of the game.

Reading will be without defender Michael Duberry (knee) for tomorrow night’s FA Cup third round replay with Spurs at the Madejski Stadium.

TO BE rated by Roy Keane is an accolade few would scorn but for an Irishman it is the highest form of praise. Yet for Steve Coppell, the Reading manager, Sunderland’s pursuit of Stephen Hunt was the opposite of music to his ears.

Brynjar Gunnarsson is suspended for Reading’s Barclays Premier League clash against Portsmouth at the Madejski Stadium.

DIMITAR BERBATOV almost single-handedly hoisted Tottenham to the top of the Premier League goalscoring table but even that was not enough to quell his frustration at the end of this extraordinary afternoon.

Reading will be without midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson for tomorrow’s trip to Tottenham.

Striker Carlton Cole returned from suspension to partner Dean Ashton up front as West Ham manager Alan Curbishley made just one change from last weekend’s 2-1 win at Middlesbrough.

Reading will keep an eye on Brynjar Gunnarsson ahead of the trip to West Ham after the midfielder completed 90 minutes against Sunderland at the weekend despite a badly-gashed knee.

ROY Keane does not believe he is immune from the sacking virus that has swept through the Premier League but has not yet reached the north-east. After all, it happened to Brian Clough, the first great manager to give him a platform.

ALEX MCLEISH believes Mikael Forssell will play a decisive role in Birmingham’s bid to stay in the Premier League — if he can remain fit.

Reading 3 Liverpool 1

Reading will be without John Oster for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League visit of Liverpool after it was decided the winger required surgery on a troublesome ankle.

GARETH SOUTHGATE is confident he still has the backing of his Middlesbrough squad, despite dropping into the relegation zone.

Misfiring Middlesbrough have been forced to hand rookie goalkeeper Ross Turnbull his third Premier League start in this afternoon’s crucial clash at Reading.

Defender Michael Duberry is missing from the Reading squad for tomorrow’s visit of Middlesbrough.

THIS has been a particularly turbulent time in the always eventful life of Stephen Ireland but, for now at least, the midfielder is cutting an unusually contented figure.

Reading will be without defender Michael Duberry for tomorrow’s trip to Manchester City.

Defender Michael Duberry is doubtful for Reading’s home Barclays Premier League game with Arsenal on Monday night after damaging ribs in last week’s defeat at Fulham.

Reading expect captain Graeme Murty to retain his place for tomorrow’s visit of Newcastle after the defender suffered a bout of sickness yesterday.

Reading winger Bobby Convey has suffered yet another injury setback.

Both Reading and Liverpool made wholesale changes for their Carling Cup, third-round clash at the Madejski Stadium.

Reading 2 Wigan 1

Reading welcome back striker Kevin Doyle and defender Michael Duberry for tomorrow’s visit of Wigan.

Reading are likely to be without utility man Brynjar Gunnarsson for tomorrow’s trip to Sunderland as the Iceland international has not trained since suffering a badly-bruised knee injury in the defeat by West Ham on September 1.

EVEN with dreaded climate change it’s a case of every cloud having a silver lining — for some.

Reading are set to welcome back defenders Graeme Murty (hamstring) and Nicky Shorey (knee) for tomorrow’s visit of West Ham, who have tried to buy the latter.

Reading manager Steve Coppell will ring the changes for tomorrow night’s Carling Cup trip to Swansea.

Michael Duberry and Kalifa Cisse are the latest players to become unavailable for Reading ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Everton.

Reading will be without strikers Dave Kitson (suspended) and Leroy Lita (hip) for tomorrow’s visit of Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League.

Reading will be without striker Leroy Lita, wingers Glen Little and Bobby Convey and defender Ibrahima Sonko for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Manchester United.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson almost outdid Steve Coppell in the changes stakes today as United tackled Reading for a place in the FA Cup sixth round.