Doyle Out For Four Weeks

Kevin Doyle faces a spell on the sidelines after an injury suffered in Sunday's draw with Everton at Goodison Park.

The talismanic striker overstretched while chasing a ball with Everton defender, Joleon Lescott.

Although initially it was thought that the injury could be a lot worse, it was found that Doyle has strained his hamstring. And Reading can take comfort in the fact that scans revealed that Doyle will be out for a maximum of four weeks.

"We've had him scanned and it's better than we thought," said Reading boss Steve Coppell speaking to the club website. "He'll be out for four weeks at the most."

And Coppell insists that Dave Kitson`s return will be enough to bolster the squad in light of Doyle`s injury.

Kitson made a return to play featuring in Reading`s FA Cup tie with Burnley. Other then that the injury-plagued striker had not played since the opening day of the season.

Coppell remarked: "I am not looking to bring in a new striker because of this. I still have four strikers who can compete for a place and I think there is healthy competition."

Although doom-mongers would have you believe this is the end of Reading`s season, the injury to Doyle will create a healthy competition for places up front.

Doyle has been the only permanent attacking fixture in Reading`s team this season partnered by all Reading`s other first team strikers, so Reading fans can look forward to some variety in the line-up.

I don`t welcome the news that Doyle is missing for four weeks, but we have to be positive, there is the return of Dave Kitson - and now possibly sooner then we might have expected.

Doyle is, of course, Reading`s top scorer and third in the league, but lest we forget Leroy Lita has hit great form of recent scoring four in his last five games.

Seol Ki-Hyeon is another alternative who has shown he can score at the top level.

Shane Long is young but given time and chances he can excel to be just as good as Doyle.

And finally, Dave Kitson, Reading have coped well without their top goalscorer of the two seasons past so now he is back we can expect to see him finding net a few times.

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