The Royals’ unbeaten streak ended with a 3-1 loss to Leyton Orient last time out, which has dropped spirits a little bit. Dom Ballard tore Reading a new one, scoring a hat-trick against his former side, showing the Royals why he is the league’s top scorer.
Barnsley won last time out against Blackpool, with David McGoldrick proving he still has it in this league. Danger man Davis Keillor-Dunn didn’t feature in the last match so maybe the Royals will be let off from his presence as he always has a massive impact against us.
Advertisement
New signings will be integrated into the squad and I predict one of them to start this weekend.
In this preview I will mention the new transfers and where they fit into the system, as well as giving my predictions.
What? League One matchday 26
Season? 2025/26
Who? Barnsley
Where? Select Car Leasing Stadium
When? Saturday January 23
Time? 15:00
Opposition manager? Conor Hourihane
New signings
There have been three new signings for Reading this January: Will Keane, Hayden Roberts and Ryan Nyambe. A striker, a left-back and a right-back have come in to boost the numbers of the squad.
Keane is on loan from Preston North End, having played 95 times for them, scoring 20 goals. Although he featured for England at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-20 levels, he chose to play for Ireland and has made five appearances for his national team.
Advertisement
Fun fact, his brother Michael Keane – yes, the Everton defender – featured for Ireland’s youth before making the switch to England. They had the complete opposite national careers.
In the 2021/22 season with Wigan Athletic he was the league’s top scorer with 26 goals and then, after signing for Preston, he was their 2023/24 top scorer as well with 13 goals in 38 games.
Roberts is a 23-year-old left-back who has signed on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Bristol City. The former Brighton & Hove Albion youth prospect has made appearances for Rochdale, Derby County and Bristol City before signing for Reading this week.
Advertisement
He’s scored five senior career goals: two for Derby, two for Bristol City and one for Brighton. Roberts opened his league account for Derby against MK Dons, who were assisted by current Barnsley manager Hourihane.
Signing for Reading until 2028, he will be a mainstay at the club, and I expect him to make his first start in this game.
Nyambe will be the first Namibian to feature for Reading. Playing for Blackburn Rovers for seven years, he made 201 appearances for them on the right side of defence. In the 2016/17 season he was Blackburn’s young player of the year.
In 2022 he signed for Wigan and featured in 33 games before signing for Derby in 2023. Joining the Royals on loan until the end of the season, he will provide good back-up to Andy Yiadom, if the former captain were to sustain any sort of injury or need a rest.
Advertisement
He has made 17 appearances for Namibia, including a run in the Africa Cup of Nations.
I think all three will have an impact this season but I expect Roberts to be a main starter for the Royals.
My lineup
Joel Pereira will be in goal: he is so important to how we play and he will definitely be needed in this one.
In the defence will be Yiadom, Finley Burns, Paudie O’Connor and Roberts.
The midfield will consist of Lewis Wing, Liam Fraser and Kamari Doyle.
The attack will be Matt Ritchie, Jack Marriott and Daniel Kyerewaa.
Score prediction: 1-1
I think I’m being optimistic with a draw but a point against Barnsley would be a great result, and would put us right back in the fight for the playoff places.
Good luck to those going to the game.
Come on you Royals!
