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Reading today made a major step in their ongoing battle with the injury juggernaut that has towered over the club for much of the last twelve months. As Charles Watts has reported on Twitter, the first-team quartet of Danny Williams, Garath McCleary, Danny Guthrie and Anton Ferdinand all played 45 minutes at Reading's training ground. As for a potential timeframe, Danny Guthrie could be in the match day squad to face Blackpool, whereas the others aren't too far away from also being involved.
Garath McCleary, Danny Williams, Danny Guthrie and Anton Ferdinand played 45 minutes today at the training ground #readingfc
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) October 23, 2014
Get the impression that Guthrie could be involved this weekend, the others very close now. Jem a couple of weeks behind #readingfc
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) October 23, 2014
Danny Guthrie is indeed the only one of those four to have been involved at all during this campaign. As for the others, Danny Williams hasn't played since firing Reading to a 1-0 win at Charlton in April, Garath McCleary finished last season with a broken back and has been recovering since, and Anton Ferdinand pre-empted his role in the injury crisis by being injured when he arrived in the summer.
The club have also confirmed that striker Glenn Murray played today, and should be available to face Blackpool on Saturday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Striker <a href="https://twitter.com/GM_83">@GM_83</a> also returned to the training ground and is expected to be available for Saturday's game.</p>— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReadingFC/status/525326112684269568">October 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Naturally, much of the reaction on Twitter has been positive...
@charles_watts best news I've heard in a while!
— Adam Bosley (@AdamBosley1) October 23, 2014
This has actually made me so happy! #readingfc pic.twitter.com/xLSjOZgGHn
— Adam Bosley (@AdamBosley1) October 23, 2014
...but we at the Tilehurst End always have time for some healthy cynicism.
"@charles_watts: McCleary, Williams, Guthrie and Ferdinand played 45 minutes today #readingfc" And will now miss the rest of the season
— Pepe (@PepetheHorseman) October 23, 2014