Reading FC: November should provide fringe player with the opportunity to impress Ruben Selles | OneFootball

A lack of squad depth should provide Tivonge Rushesha with a real chance to shine for the Berkshire outfit in November.

League One side Reading have been in fairly decent form in recent times.

Considering the ownership situation at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, the Royals can be pleased with their work.

Off-field issues limited them to securing just one signing during the summer transfer window, with Chem Campbell arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers shortly before the deadline.

Campbell is only on a short-term loan deal until January and there are no guarantees that they will be able to extend this deal, so it will be interesting to see what materialises during the winter window and where their ownership situation is at then.

Making just two loan signings in the past couple of windows, they don't have anywhere near enough squad depth, with the Berkshire side seeing quite a few players leave in 2024.

The January window firesale caused a lot of anger and during the same month, there was even a pitch invasion protest against owners Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li.

More departures during the summer window followed, with Dom Ballard, Zane Monlouis and Paul Mukairu all returning to their respective parent clubs, Femi Azeez being sold to Millwall and Matty Carson, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Sam Hutchinson and Clinton Mola all being released.

The Royals' lack of depth has allowed some players to win more game time, including 16-year-old Andre Garcia, but some players haven't been able to win as much senior game time as they would have wanted, including Tivonge Rushesha.

Rushesha made the move to Berkshire last year after his departure from Swansea City - and he put pen to paper on fresh terms to extend his stay during the summer.

Tivonge Rushesha hasn't won much game time for Reading FC this season

Rushesha can play as both a full-back and a central midfielder, but hasn't been one of Ruben Selles' preferred choices during the 2024/25 campaign thus far.

At right-back, a position he can play in, Michael Craig has been a regular starter there and doesn't look set to vacate his position anytime soon, barring rotation or cup games.

And in central midfield, Ben Elliott, Harvey Knibbs and Charlie Savage (pictured above) are all preferred as options, with Shay Spencer also playing in midfield for the first team this season.

Rushesha has spent much of the season either on the bench or out of the matchday squad, but when he has been given a first-team opportunity, he has impressed.

He should have had a goal given against Wrexham back in August - and showed real promise against West Ham U21s in the EFL Trophy.

Tivonge Rushesha could have lots to bring to the table at Reading FC

The midfielder's versatility could pay dividends for the Royals, who need as many squad options as they can get.

They may have a few central midfield options, but EFL Trophy and FA Cup games are coming up in November and this should persuade Selles to play him more.

With the Royals only having a limited amount of depth, more injuries could prove to be very costly for the team, so it's vital that Selles rotates his team enough to reduce the risks of players sustaining knocks and more severe setbacks.

Teenager Spencer, who is an academy graduate, probably deserves a chance to start in central midfield after doing well against West Ham U21s and Crawley Town, and that could mean that Rushesha comes in for Craig at right-back.

Andy Yiadom and Kelvin Abrefa are both out at this point, so it would make sense to bring Rushesha in at full-back.

His energy could be a real asset for the Royals, who haven't given the ex-Swansea man enough of a chance to prove his worth.

Without giving him the chance to shine at the SCL Stadium, Selles won't fully know how good the 22-year-old could be in Berkshire.