"I'd like to think the gap is closing between Marcus (Hahnemann and I," he suggested. "I'm right behind him, if not alongside him.

"Results haven't gone so well for us recently and maybe I could make a difference. Maybe a bit of youth in our defence would be good for the team and I'll keep pushing as hard as I can.

"I don't want to go on loan just when I might get an opportunity, I just want to play for Reading and I've worked so hard for this.