Reading FC

Reading FC striker Simon Church is helped out by head physio Jon Fearn
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Simon Church praying for a miracle after hip injury

By Jonny Fordham
November 23, 2009

Simon Church is hoping he’ll be fit enough to take part in Saturday’s game away to Derby County (3pm kick-off) after he injured his hip on Saturday.

The 20-year-old striker had a freak accident and slipped when he tried to hook the ball and prevent it from going out of play during Reading's 2-1 win over Blackpool at Madejski Stadium- their first home league win since January 27.

The Wales striker was immediately taken off for Grzegorz Rasiak who in turn came on and scored the winner in the 82nd minute against Ian Holloway’s side to move Royals up to 20th place and out of the relegation zone.

Speaking after the game Church said: “I think I’ve opened my hip up so we’ll have to see what happens.

“But it’s feeling a lot better than it was when I first did it during the match so that’s a promising sign.

“My studs got caught, I slipped and my other foot gave way when i was trying to keep the ball in.

“I panicked at first because I thought I’d ripped my groin or popped something out as I fell pretty awkwardly, but it’s settled down.

“I think it should ease off and I’ll be back fully training as soon as possible.”

Shane Long is expected to be back in training this week which is a relief for manager Brendan Rodgers who has Poland international Rasiak as his only fully match-fit front man.

Hal Robson-Kanu has played up front before, but he too is still some way off full match fitness as he makes a comeback from a groin injury.

Rodgers has said previously that he won’t be calling back on-loan strikers David Mooney (Charlton Athletic) or Nicholas Bignall (Stockport County) and revealed last week that he was still interested in bringing in another on-loan forward to supplement the squad.

Two unknown clubs had knocked him back after he approached them enquiring about players, but he insisted he wouldn’t bring in anybody who wasn’t of the ‘right DNA’ he was after.

Church, Reading's second top scorer in the league with three, admitted that he could have been rested after playing for Wales during the international break, but wouldn’t have had it any other way.

The High Wycombe-born youngster added: “I’m really pleased I started again, I could have been rested, but I just want to keep my place in the team.

“I am a bit tired, but when you come out and play in games like the Blackpool one it makes it all the more worthwhile, so I would hate to be rested.”

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Maybe if he attends his surname, he might just get that prayer request answered.

The End times A Rhema word
24/11/2009 at 00:29

Our already wafer thin strike force has now been torn to shreds, much like the cloth before it.

It is now time for the Chairman to put up or shut up.

Find the money to sign a decent loan striker, followed by a permanent signing in the transfer window (and no, Mr Chairman, that does not mean flogging off Marek to finance it!). Alternatively he should shut up telling us how Reading Football Club and the people of Reading are so close to his heart, wanting to give something back etc. etc.