Reading Preview

It's Reading up next at The Valley in what is sure to be a tough encounter and a solid test of this Charlton team's credentials. Alan Pardew's former club have lost fewer players since their relegation than most expected (although there is still a week and a bit left to run on the transfer window) and they look to be a strong unit. With a team sheet boasting the likes of Hahnemann, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Hunt, Harper, Doyle and Lita, it's easy to see why the Royals are one of the favourites to make an immediate return to the Premiership.

Charlton have now lost two on the spin and it would be brilliant to stop the rot tomorrow. Injuries, suspensions and further exits all considered, Pardew is hardly spoilt for choice with his team selection. Weaver had a good game against Watford by all accounts so is a foregone conclusion in goal. Central defence is unlikely to see a change from the Hudson-Fortune combination. Kelly Youga's red card has opened up the left back slot though, for a game at least. The feeling is that Grant Basey's withdrawal from the Wales Under-21 squad was purely precautionary in light of the fact that it was a completely pointless friendly. I hope this is the case because a) I think Basey deserves his chance and b) I'm not sure who else we have to play there. Right back also presents a dilemma. In an ideal world I would like to see Semedo free from his defensive duties and made available for selection in midfield. But I just don't get the impression that Pardew rates or trusts Moutaouakil enough to throw him back in to a match like this. Which is worrying really.

On the assumption that Semedo will continue at right back and Nicky Bailey will almost certainly be making his home debut, there is one midfield spot left up for grabs. Ambrose's lengthy lay off, Racon's injury and the fact that I have no idea where Zheng Zhi is or what he is up to, means there are only two options I think: Shelvey or Holland. My preference would be to go for the experience of Holland and have Shelvey on the bench to offer some energy and drive later in the game if needed (which it surely will be). On the flanks, Sam and Bouazza are the obvious choices and hopefully Bouazza has settled in a bit. Fair enough, he got hardly any game time against Swansea and was played hopelessly out of position against Yeovil, but reports from the Watford game weren't brilliant.

Up front, I imagine Pardew will stick with Varney and Gray but they really need to start proving themselves. Against Swansea they looked pretty isolated and didn't link up at all well with the midfield or each other. Dickson is snapping at their heels and looks to be raring to go, but I suspect he'll have to settle for a place on the bench on this occasion. Todorov is not match fit and Fleetwood already seems to be well down the pecking order.

All said and done, I would line them up as follows: Weaver; Semedo, Hudson, Fortune, Youga; Sam, Bailey, Holland, Bouazza; Gray, Varney. Subs: Elliot, Moutaouakil, Wright, Shelvey, Dickson,

Former Charlton players have a got a habit of coming back to hurt us and the threat of Lita is well known. Last seen by Charlton fans at Loftus Road as our play-off hopes died with a pathetic 1-0 defeat, he showed during his spell at The Valley what he can do and our back four will do well to contain him and his colleagues. A defeat on Saturday won't be the end of the world and I think getting a point would be a good result. Fixtures against Watford, Reading and Wolves within our first five games is not the easiest of starts to the season and I think it will certainly wake up a few players to the reality of this season. Hoping for a glorious victory in front of the Sky cameras tomorrow, expecting slightly less.