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Nigel Adkins gives new hope to Adam Le Fondre
NIGEL ADKINS has told Reading striker Adam Le Fondre that he is part of his first-team plans.
Le Fondre, the club’s leading marksman with 12 goals, has hit out after starting just one of the four games in which Adkins has been in charge, saying he would consider his future if he was left out in the cold much longer.
With former Royals boss Brian McDermott, now at Leeds United, interested in the 26-year-old – as well as newly promoted Championship side Cardiff City – Adkins has told Le Fondre he wants him to stay at the Madejski Stadium.
“I’ve had a good conversation with Alfie,” said former Southampton boss Adkins, whose Reading side will be consigned to the Championship if they lose at home to Queens Park Rangers tomorrow. “Sometimes things can get blown out of proportion, that’s fair to say.
“The truth is we like him a lot. I started him against Southampton and he came on against Liverpool.
“Maybe he could have come on against Norwich [last week], but we were in a good position through the game.
“I think it is great a player wants to play. I would rather they turn around and say they are desperate to play, and if they can’t start then they want to make an impact off the bench.
I would rather they turn around and say they are desperate to play, and if they can’t start then they want to make an impact off the bench
“That’s good for me and that’s what you want – people here fighting for the cause, like Alfie.
“I’ve got no issues with him and he has been very professional in everything he has done.
“Long may that continue. If we want to be successful, we can’t do that with just 11 players.”
Although Reading’s fans acknowledge that their struggling side will not be able to claw back a 10-point gap to safety, Adkins refuses to lose hope .
“We’re not down, first of all,” he added.
“We’re looking at one game at a time and the attitude and the application on the training ground has been first class.”