Tys Hoping For First Team Start

Last updated : 24 December 2002 By Rob Cooper
Talented 20-year-old winger-cum-forward Nathan Tyson is hoping for only his second ever start in a Royals shirt on Boxing Day.

The former Cheltenham and Swansea loanee played sixty minutes on Saturday as Reading went down 2-0 at Nottingham Forest, replacing stricken forward Nicky Forster in the first-half.

With Forster as certain absentee for the next couple of weeks with a hamstring injury Tyson is hoping that he will get called up as the 29-year-old's replacement.

"The gaffer is looking to make some changes and I am keeping my fingers crossed," said Tyson, speaking to the Reading Official Site.

"I would love anohter start as I felt I looked comfortable at the weekend. UI was looking for through passes and I wanted the ball."

Despite his tender years pressures of first team football don't faze 'Tys' who added: "If I have a slow or a quick right-back I'll take them on. I know what I am good at and think I am due a goal."

Despite some promising play on Saturday, the youngster, who is better lining up on the wing, is not expected to get the nod from Alan Pardew who is likely to instead opt for the experienced partnership of Martin Butler and Jamie Cureton.