Reading FC

Pavel Pogrebnyak will be a big player for Reading C in more ways than one says manager Brian McDermott
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Reading FC expect big things from Pavel Pogrebnyak

By Jonny Fordham
July 20, 2012

Pavel Pogrebnyak will be a big player for Reading in more ways than one, insists Brian McDermott.

After watching the Pog train in Portugal yesterday morning, Royals’ boss declared that the physical striker will be a real force in the Premier League.

McDermott has no doubts that the 28-year-old Russia international will be able to stand up to the meanest defenders in the world.

He said: “When you see Pavel in a football kit, he is big.

“Some players don’t look as big when you see them on the football pitch and some players play big and look big – like Pavel.

“Jason Roberts is another example of that. We have a number of cases like that here now.

“Adrian Mariappa is another. He might not look big, but he plays big.”

Six of McDermott’s summer signings have flown out with the rest of the first-team squad for their pre-season training camp in the Algarve.

Right-back Chris Gunter, a £2.3million signing from Nottingham Forest, and centre-back Mariappa, who cost £2m from Watford, will both feature against CDR Quarteirense tomorrow (8pm kick-off).

But Royals fans will have to wait a little longer before seeing Pogrebnyak in action.

He is being eased back into training following his involvement in Euro 2012.

McDermott said: “When you bring in six or seven, which is a lot, the challenge is to get everyone into the group as quickly as possible and manage that.

“If you look around you can see that the players and characters we have brought in fit perfectly. That might look easy, but it’s not. You have to know what makes everyone tick and everyone needs to feel part of it.”

McDermott will use the game against their Portuguese third division opponents to give as many players possible another 45 minutes.

Goalkeeper Adam Federici is in line to play his first pre-season friendly.

Jonathan Henley has gone to Portugal with Royals’ first-team squad.

The teenage goalkeeper, who has come through the Reading Academy, could get his chance to impress in one of Reading’s three games in the Algarve.

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Hi Dear,

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brasilialove, germany
10/08/2012 at 23:11

uglyyeti, USA, thanks. I thought your reply was a joke until I Googled it.

N Tropy
21/07/2012 at 13:32

That's more or less a training bra. It monitors heart rate, speed, repeat efforts, etc and transmits it to coaching staff. They can be used to monitor training progress, but Pog's is probably rigged with threshold alarms to make sure he doesn't over exert himself as he ramps up - especially in the Portuguese heat.

uglyyeti, USA
20/07/2012 at 23:26

I know little of football, but why is he wearing a bra over his shirt?

N Tropy
20/07/2012 at 22:21

17th or higher will do for the first season back ...but must admit top 10 would be a real success

......... Go Royals

A. XYZ
20/07/2012 at 18:57

excited to see this team get started. believe the signings bringing in both young players on the rise-and some with PL experience should give the squad a real chance to compete. McD will have them ready for certain!