Brooke Chaplen
Kelly Chambers confirmed that Chaplen had gone into surgery this afternoon and that they were waiting to see what they’ve had to do structurally. The club will then look at what her rehab plan will be and what her return to football will be like.
In regards to the rest of the team, she said that despite everyone being sad about the news that it gives the squad a little bit more behind them to keep picking up points for her.
Brighton preparations
The FA Cup game has no bearings on Sunday’s fixture. Brighton made lots of changes for the cup game so she is expecting a different side. She would like to continue the fantastic run they’re currently on as they go into the international break and as with last week, she expects a fully fit squad as they travel to The People’s Pension Stadium.
For Reading, it’s about concentrating on their individual roles and responsibilities as much as it is about the collective and implementing those on the day as Brighton will be chomping at the bit to get points on the board.
For Chambers, it’s about keeping the players and the staff’s feet on the ground and taking every game as it comes.
Academy watch
With the success we’ve seen with Emma and Tia more recently, is there anyone in the academy we should be keeping an eye out for this season?
I’ve had a couple of academy players training with us over the season. Tia has gone on to strive more and more, if you look at the team now the likes of Grace Moloney, Bethan Roberts, Emma Harries and even Lily Woodham from Bristol. That’s what we’re about and it’s a case of who’s that next one and today we’ve had one of our under 16’s come and train on a day release because we’ve highlighted her as a player that can do it.
Tia is tenacious, she likes to get stuck in and Reading can build the game around that. She’s shown she can be brought her and win them games.
International break
It’s great having international players going away, they gain experience to bring back to the club and back to the group. On the flip side, when you’re on a run, you don’t want the break. The break will however be a refresh for the staff and the four players remaining in the squad.
Refereeing
The professionalism of women’s football is on the up but refereeing remains behind. For us to improve the standard of refereeing, we’ve got to get full time referees in the game.
Training with the men’s academy
Chambers gets messages of congratulations from Veljko Paunovic. They’ve trained with the boys academy and Chambers say it’s great to bounce ideas off each other and share practice.
Reading will travel to the People’s Pension Stadium this weekend to face Brighton in the WSL on Sunday at 2pm. The game is available to watch on the FA Player. You can also tune into BBC Radio Sussex to listen to our very own, Abi Ticehurst, on co-comms with Robert Dugmore.
