Forster Sent For Fresh Scan As Injury Fears Grow

Last updated : 10 February 2004 By Rob Cooper
Thirty-year-old frontman Nicky Forster, who recently was linked with a move to Premiership Portsmouth, is set for several more weeks on the sidelines.

Fozzy has played just once since December because of a stomach injury and he will now have to undergo a further scan so that the club can ascertain the extent of his season-wrecking injury.

With things seemingly getting no better, those within the club are more and more afraid that it will be a long time before the pacy striker sees first team action again.

Physio Jon Fearn revealed that the club are seeking expert opinion as they desperately seek to discover just how bad Fozzy's injury is.

Fearn told the official site: "Nicky is having a different type of scan in order to either come to a clearer diagnosis or to rule out certain injuries.

"We are also seeing a specialist so the outcome of the next couple of days should give us a better picture."

Forster, who finished top scorer last season with seventeen goals to his name, has continued this year in the same rich vein of form but due to his injury has not found the net for almost two months. His most recent strikes came as we beat Wigan way back on Saturday 6th December. The ex-England under 21 man got a brace that day as we won 2-0.

The Royals will want Fozzy back doing what he does best as soon as possible. Despite the re-emergence of Shaun Goater in recent weeks, shot-shy Reading need to bolster their attacking line if they wish to reverse their recent dismal run of form.

Meanwhile, it is rumoured that Reading are set to bring in 35-year-old ex-England midfielder David Batty on a short term loan. The Leeds United man has been told he can leave Elland Road by caretaker boss Eddie Gray as he attempts to save the Yorkshire side from the drop.