Darius Henderson
READING’S rising young stars Darius Henderson and Jamie Ashdown are being lined up for loan moves.
Henderson, who will leave for one month initially, is wanted by a string of clubs including Brentford, Brighton, Colchester, Walsall and Wycombe.
However, there is no chance of him going to First Division Walsall, who are managed by former Royals assistant boss Colin Lee, or Second Division Wycombe, who have ex-Reading player Lawrie Sanchez in charge.
Relationships between the pair and Royals manager Alan Pardew have been strained over the years.
And Pardew said: “They have not spoken to me about Darius and I have no intention of sending him there anyway as neither of them like me.”
Instead Henderson is most likely to make the switch to Brighton or Brentford while Colchester, managed by former Royal Phil Parkinson, are less of a possibility.
Pardew added: “He will definitely go to one of those three clubs as I know how they work. He will get the right coaching, he will will definitely play there and most importantly he will be looked after.
“I rate Darius very highly. Centre forwards are like centre halves – they need to learn the intricacy of the game and they can only get that by playing and learning.
“He needs to know where to run, when to lay the ball off, when to hold it up and you can’t get that just on the training ground.
“It’s the same for goalkeepers and I am desperate to get Jamie Ashdown out on loan.
“Both players have the tools to be successful in the First Division and maybe even the Premier League but they still have to learn the game and I can’t afford to have them sitting on the bench for another season.”
Henderson was talking to the three interested clubs this week and will almost certainly move out on loan by tomorrow.
And provision could be made for the one-month deal to be extended depending on how he fares. There will be no option for Reading to recall him during the first month.
Henderson has enjoyed a successful pre-season, scoring against Gefle IK, IK Brage and Southampton.
However, the arrival of £500,000 striker Shaun Goater from Manchester City has dropped him down the pecking order and his chances would once again be limited to substitute appearances.
Pardew rates the 21-year-old highly but knows the big striker needs regular first-team experience to step up to the next level.
Although Doncaster-born Henderson has been on the scene for a few seasons he has only made 12 starts, while a further 70 have been from the bench.
He has netted 16 goals, including Reading’s 5,000th League goal, against Wycombe in September 2001.
Ashdown, who has made just five starts for Royals plus one substitute appearance, remains the club’s second-choice keeper behind Marcus Hahnemann.
If he was to leave on loan, Academy and England Under-18s keeper Jamie Young would deputise.
Meanwhile, Royals’ search for a centre-back is continuing and I understand Pardew has identified the player he wants to bring in. However, it is now certain the new acquisition will not be brought in before the start of the season.
READING’S rising young stars Darius Henderson and Jamie Ashdown are being lined up for loan moves.
Henderson, who will leave for one month initially, is wanted by a string of clubs including Brentford, Brighton, Colchester, Walsall and Wycombe.
However, there is no chance of him going to First Division Walsall, who are managed by former Royals assistant boss Colin Lee, or Second Division Wycombe, who have ex-Reading player Lawrie Sanchez in charge.
Relationships between the pair and Royals manager Alan Pardew have been strained over the years.
And Pardew said: “They have not spoken to me about Darius and I have no intention of sending him there anyway as neither of them like me.”
Instead Henderson is most likely to make the switch to Brighton or Brentford while Colchester, managed by former Royal Phil Parkinson, are less of a possibility.
Pardew added: “He will definitely go to one of those three clubs as I know how they work. He will get the right coaching, he will will definitely play there and most importantly he will be looked after.
“I rate Darius very highly. Centre forwards are like centre halves – they need to learn the intricacy of the game and they can only get that by playing and learning.
“He needs to know where to run, when to lay the ball off, when to hold it up and you can’t get that just on the training ground.
“It’s the same for goalkeepers and I am desperate to get Jamie Ashdown out on loan.
“Both players have the tools to be successful in the First Division and maybe even the Premier League but they still have to learn the game and I can’t afford to have them sitting on the bench for another season.”
Henderson was talking to the three interested clubs this week and will almost certainly move out on loan by tomorrow.
And provision could be made for the one-month deal to be extended depending on how he fares. There will be no option for Reading to recall him during the first month.
Henderson has enjoyed a successful pre-season, scoring against Gefle IK, IK Brage and Southampton.
However, the arrival of £500,000 striker Shaun Goater from Manchester City has dropped him down the pecking order and his chances would once again be limited to substitute appearances.
Pardew rates the 21-year-old highly but knows the big striker needs regular first-team experience to step up to the next level.
Although Doncaster-born Henderson has been on the scene for a few seasons he has only made 12 starts, while a further 70 have been from the bench.
He has netted 16 goals, including Reading’s 5,000th League goal, against Wycombe in September 2001.
Ashdown, who has made just five starts for Royals plus one substitute appearance, remains the club’s second-choice keeper behind Marcus Hahnemann.
If he was to leave on loan, Academy and England Under-18s keeper Jamie Young would deputise.
Meanwhile, Royals’ search for a centre-back is continuing and I understand Pardew has identified the player he wants to bring in. However, it is now certain the new acquisition will not be brought in before the start of the season.
