Brian: I can't guarantee Alfie starts

Reading manager Brian McDermott has praised his striker Adam Le Fondre for his goal contributions in recent games, but can't guarantee he will start every week.

The 25-year old scored the equalising penalty in the 3-2 victory over West Brom two weeks ago and scored a superb double in the miraculous comeback against Newcastle on Saturday. It was Alfie's 21st appearance of the season and his 13th off of the bench, but McDermott has hinted the striker could be a better option off the bench.

Speaking to the Official Reading FC website, McDermott said: 'I talk to Adam and it's difficult, I have to do whatever I think I can to get a result, and if he has to come off the bench and get the winning goal he is going to be the hero. You know what you are going to get with Alfie, you know he is going to get a chance to score, that is what he does.'

'He wants to play but we have to get results and do whatever it takes. Sometimes games are different, you can play 4-4-2 from the start and change things around but in this division you can't get knocked down too early. That has been happening to us too many times recently.'

I think Alfie may have to live with the fact that he is a much better option coming off the bench, but I am still confident in his abilities that he can start games for us, but not necessarily on his own. I would expect him to get a start alongside Noel on Saturday, a partnership which flourished against Crawley in the last round.

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