Murts Ups Ante With Return To Training

Last updated : 12 September 2002 By Rob Cooper

Murty, who was The Supporter's Player of the Year for last season, is almost ready to return to the first team after missing the games at Rotherham and Cambridge having suffered whiplash in a car crash.

The 27-year-old was travelling home from training last Monday with team mate Martin Butler when the Mercedes the duo were travelling in collided with a large van. Whilst Butts escaped unhurt Murty was taken to hospital.

"I'm not too bad really, I'm just doing what Jon Fearn (Reading physio) says and seeing how I progress from there. I don't like to make predictions about when I'm going to return, I'll see how I feel after training," said Murts, speaking to readingfc.co.uk.

In his place Ricky Newman has filled in at right-back, making his return to action after almost 18 months out with a cruciate ligament injury.

Whilst it it not yet known when Murts will make his return to action he admits the team must do better than they did at Cambridge if they are to get anything out of the Wimbledon game on Saturday.

"Wimbledon will be a big game, they're all big games for us now. The Dons will come and try to play the game rather than camping in their own half as happened against a lot of teams last year.

"We've got to prove how strong we are by getting a result on Saturday. The lads look fit, they look great, they're buzzing and they want to show that Tuesday's defeat at Cambridge was a fluke."

Meanwhile, Reading have signed rookie shotstopper Bradie Clarke after impressing on a trial period. The former Ipswich Town schoolboy joins as a first year scholar.