Reading vs Tottenham Hotspur preview - Kebe back for Royals - 7M sport

Reading vs Tottenham Hotspur preview - Kebe back for Royals



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Posted Sunday, September 16, 2012 by PA

Reading boss Brian McDermott will welcome Jimmy Kebe back into his squad for the Barclays Premier League fixture at home to Tottenham.

The Mali winger has been missing all season due to a hamstring injury but is now available for selection after returning to training.

Jason Roberts (calf) is the only player unavailable to McDermott with all of his international players returning unscathed from their respective matches.

There had been a small doubt over the fitness of Adam Federici but the goalkeeper is likely to retain his starting place at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

McDermott insists he will not be motivated by the opportunity to heap pressure on Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Spurs travel to the Madejski Stadium without a league victory after three games under Villas-Boas, and the team were jeered from the pitch following their 1-1 draw with Norwich at White Hart Lane before the international break.

Reading have also still yet to taste victory in the league this season but have only played twice so far. McDermott is concentrating on getting his own team firing and said: "I don't want to inflict pain on anyone, I just want to do the right thing for us.

"What we have to do is prepare ourselves and get a good performance from our team and that is the only thing that I'm looking to do.

"We are playing against Spurs - a fantastic side - and I know Andre quite well so I'm not looking to inflict pain, we are just looking to play our game and put on a performance for our fans."

Goalkeeper Brad Friedel will keep his place in the Tottenham team despite the recent signing of France captain Hugo Lloris.

Villas-Boas said Lloris may not even be on the bench on Sunday as he has only trained with his new team-mates once since signing from Lyon for £8million on deadline day.

"We have had a conversation with Hugo. We are extremely happy that he is part of this squad. We have no doubts about his talent and his future in the club, but against Reading we have made the decision to continue with Brad," he said.

"At the moment we feel that Brad is looking consistent and deserves [to play] bearing in mind his last performance against Norwich, and against West Brom, which was extremely positive."

Clint Dempsey, who also signed on deadline day, could make his debut at the Madejski Stadium, but Younes Kaboul (knee), Scott Parker (Achilles) and Heurelho Gomes (ankle) are out.



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