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Jamie Cureton. Dave Kitson. Kevin Doyle. Adam Le Fondre. Reading have been blessed with top-quality strikers down the years, but they haven’t relied on many as much as they do on Lucas Joao this season.
The Portuguese centre forward has scored twice and assisted once in the Royals’ first three games this season (as well as a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup) but, after coming off in their 2-1 win over Cardiff on Saturday with a dislocated shoulder, Joao is a doubt for Saturdaty’s clash with Watford.
Reading boss Veljko Paunovic has confirmed that it will be a “last-minute decision” but, if he’s not fit, can they replace him?
Joao first came to English football when he signed for Sheffield Wednesday from boyhood club Nacional, teaming up with compatriot Carlos Carvalhal. He spent four seasons in Yorkshire, scoring 26 goals in 112 Championship games.
Admittedly, this sounds like a poor record, but when you consider the fact he scored a goal every 224 minutes (2.5 games) and a lot of his appearances came off the bench, this is a decent rate.
He also spent a season on loan at Blackburn in 2016-17, where he bagged three goals in three starts, proving that – when given the opportunities – he will score goals.
Much like during his time Wednesday, Joao’s trouble with injury has held him back at Reading. A hamstring problem kept him out for 18 games last season. The dislocated shoulder he suffered in South Wales at the weekend was another one to add to the growing list of niggles picked up by the 27-year-old.
Who could replace him?
If Joao isn’t available, Reading’s other options to play through the middle are George Puscas, Sam Baldock and Yakou Meite, although the latter has predominantly been utilised as a winger in recent times.
Puscas, who was signed from Inter Milan last summer, was tipped for big things, but – other than a wonderful solo striker against Cardiff and a hat-trick against Wigan – he has flattered to deceive. Sam Baldock is a more proven option at this level, scoring 11 Championship goals for Brighton in their promotion in 2016/17.
Both offer different things. Puscas is better at being the focal point of an attack, holding the ball up and attempting to bring others into play. Baldock, on the other hand, would prefer to run in behind, chase down lost causes and finish loose balls that are bouncing around in the box.
The problem is Joao does all of that and more.
Watford are yet to concede a goal in the league this season so Reading need their big hitters available if they’re to be the first team to score and beat the Hornets since their relegation.
Without Joao, is that possible? Everyone at Reading will be doing their best to make sure that’s a question that doesn’t need answering.
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