Reading boss Noel Hunt has admitted that he is 'putting in calls' to sign a midfielder following the season-ending injury to Michael Craig.
The 21-year-old is unlikely to feature again for the club this campaign, unless the season is extended into the play-offs, and despite playing predominantly at full-back this year, the Tottenham youngster was a midfielder by trade.
With the return to fitness of captain Andy Yiadom, which allows cover at right-back, the possibility of Craig returning to midfield in the final 13 matches was strong, leaving the club now lacking in cover.
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Lewis Wing has played every minute of every game to date, while Harvey Knibbs and Charlie Savage are also nearly ever-present.
Ben Elliott is still working back from a long-term injury and so Hunt has admitted that midfield is his target area with one free agent spot remaining.
Speaking after Saturday's 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic, a sixth unbeaten match on the spin, Hunt said: "You see the output of the boys today, I thought Wingy was great today as he has been. We had a conversation a few weeks ago and he didn’t feel like he was getting up and, in the positions, to shoot. I said you’re holding the middle of the pitch for us for a reason- you make us tick and get us going.
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"We are slowly releasing him a bit more and you can see he is getting closer to a goal, relax and it’s going to come. He’s been brilliant throughout the whole process of me being here and is a true leader.
"Having people like Lewis Wing, Harvey Knibbs, Andy Yiadom, Joel Pereira- the spine of the team- Charlie Savage. It is important that we keep them fresh because we have a lot of games coming up. With that insurance gone we probably need an extra one."
Reading host Exeter City tomorrow before heading to Crawley Town on Saturday. Asked about the possibility of an imminent arrival, Hunt added: "I hope so- I have a few phone calls to make and see what Bri Carey can come up with."
