Reading FC must unearth gem similar to 2-cap England international | OneFootball

The Royals will be hoping to bring the next Nicky Shorey to the Select Car Leasing Stadium in the next window or two.

Reading manager Ruben Selles deserves the opportunity to make a few moves in the transfer market when the January transfer window opens.

Plenty of areas need to be looked at, even though the current squad is doing exceptionally well at this stage.

At this stage, the goalkeeping department can probably be addressed during the summer window, with Joel Pereira performing admirably and David Button available as an experienced backup option.

The centre-back area may require a touch more experience too, with Jeriel Dorsett needed on the left-hand side and a number of the Royals' options in this area being made up of academy graduates.

Abraham Kanu, Louie Holzman and Michael Stickland have all shone in the first team at times, but all three could potentially benefit from loan spells away from the Select Car Leasing Stadium to develop.

Whether the right-back area needs looking at will depend on whether Kelvin Abrefa and Andy Yiadom return in the New Year, but Michael Craig has done fairly well there and the likes of Tivonge Rushesha and Ashqar Ahmed can play there too.

The right-back situation may have a knock-on effect on whether the midfield needs to be looked at. Shay Spencer has stepped up well to the first team, but a more experienced defensive midfielder could help to prevent the Royals from leaking too many goals.

Out wide, one more winger to add depth could be helpful, even when Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan returns. And a backup option for Sam Smith may be needed to increase competition in the striker department.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to see any moves being made without a takeover happening, and it doesn't look as though a sale will be happening anytime soon.

This is a big shame - because it may prevent them from addressing another area that they need to look at.

At this stage, Dorsett and Andre Garcia are the two main options for Selles in the left-back area.

Rushesha is another potential option, but he may be needed at right-back or in midfield at some point, and the Berkshire side ideally need to bring in a natural option in this area.

Garcia is a very talented player and game time will help him to develop into an even better player, but a natural option at left-back to compete with Dorsett for a starting spot could benefit the Berkshire side and allow Garcia to play further forward.

Garcia has struggled defensively at points, and that's no surprise considering he's only 16, so he needs extra competition and a bit of support.

Dorsett, who has done very well against Stevenage and Peterborough United recently, may also be required in central defence at points, with Amadou Mbengue's Barnsley suspension reinforcing this.

Left-back Nicky Shorey made the move to the Royals in February 2001, when they were in the third tier.

Making the switch from Leyton Orient for just £25,000, he was a fairly low-risk signing for the Berkshire outfit, and he became a key first-teamer from the 2001/02 campaign onwards.

Making 32 league appearances during that promotion-winning season, he was then able to adapt to life in the First Division (Championship) very well, playing a key part in the record-breaking 106 campaign back in 2005/06 that took the Royals to the Premier League for the first time.

Quite a few of the Berkshire side's players were able to make the step up to the top level seamlessly - and Shorey was one of those players.

He even did enough to earn himself a couple of England caps during the summer of 2007, after guiding the Royals to a brilliant eighth-placed finish at the end of their first season in the top flight.

His team may have been relegated at the end of the 2007/08 campaign, but during that season, he registered three goals and nine assists in 36 league appearances, which earned him a move to Aston Villa.

He did return to the SCL Stadium for the club's third season in the top tier in 2012, but was unable to make as much of an impact then.

Despite this, Shorey has gone down as a legend in Berkshire and he's exactly the type of player that the Royals need right now to compete with Dorsett for a starting spot.

Able to give plenty going forward, the former England international was very useful in both the attacking and defensive thirds, and could also make a real difference from set-pieces. His two assists away at Tottenham Hotspur during the 2007/08 season reinforced this.

When Wing isn't available, having someone like him to step up for set-pieces would be ideal.

If they can unearth a gem like him on a free transfer in January or for a small fee in the summer when their embargo may be lifted, it would be great for Selles' side, who are already doing brilliantly.

But right now, they may have to make do with what they have, at least until the takeover situation is sorted.