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Reading FC Loan Round-Up: November 8th

Andrija Novakovich’s fine run of form continues, while Deniss Rakels and Yakou Meite finally get chances to shine.

Sutton United v Cheltenham Town - The Emirates FA Cup Second Round Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images

Danzell Gravenberch – KSV Roeselare (Belgian First Division B) Appearances: 2

Both Gravenberch and Wieser were absent from each of Roeselare’s three games last month.

Jonathan Bond – Peterborough United (League One) Appearances: 16 Clean Sheets: 3

Bond started all four of Peterborough’s games in October as the Cambridgeshire side picked up a win, a draw and two defeats.

The goalkeeper did pick up his third clean sheet of the season in the victory though, a 1-0 win against Shrewsbury.

He was also booked in the 87th minute against Scunthorpe after a short back pass had him rushing out of his goal, only to concede a penalty that led to a 1-0 defeat.

Luke Southwood – Bath City (National League South) Appearances: 21 Clean Sheets: 6

Like Bond, Southwood played in every minute of Bath’s games, appearing in six fixtures for the National League South side.

Unfortunately for the England U20 goalkeeper, the side didn't have the greatest of months, losing four times and drawing twice.

The 0-0 draw with Chelmsford did give Southwood his sixth clean sheet of the season as he continues to impress in a low scoring side.

At the beginning of the month, Southwood also scooped up the National League’s September POTM for the club:

Lewis Ward – Hungerford Town (National League South) Appearances: 20 Clean Sheets: 6

It’s been another successful month for another of Reading’s young goalkeepers, as Lewis Ward helped his Hungerford side keep two clean sheets in four games.

His performances in a 3-0 victory over Whitehawk and 0-0 draw with St Albans drew praise from fans online, and he continues to be the clear number one for Town.

Rob Dickie – Lincoln City (League Two) Appearances: 15 Clean Sheets: 5

Dickie has enjoyed arguably the best spell of his career during the first few months of the season, and October was no different for the defender.

His side picked up three wins and two draws in six games last month including a 2-1 win over Everton’s U21s in the Checkatrade Trophy.

Dickie and the Lincoln defence also added three clean sheets, in a 1-0 win against Swindon and 0-0 draws against Cambridge and Crawley, to give him a season average of a clean sheet every three games.

For his performance against Crawley, Dickie won the MOTM award:

Yakou Meite – FC Souchaux (Ligue 2) Appearances: 9 Goals: 1

Meite had been a bit-part player to say the least since joining Ligue 2 side FCSM in the summer, but two starts in three games this month will work wonders for his confidence, and fitness.

He was withdrawn in the 87th and 84th minutes in 1-0 wins against Paris FC and Tours FC respectively, and was introduced just past the hour mark in a 2-1 victory over Niort just a week later.

It’s the first month of the season that Meite has been involved in every game since signing for the club.

Deniss Rakels – Lech Poznan (Ekstraklasa) Appearances: 5

Similarly to Meite, Rakels has had his chances limited at Lech Poznan since his summer move, but he also enjoyed a reasonable month for the Polish side, coming off the bench in a 3-3 draw against Lechia Gdansk and 1-1 draw with Wisla Krakow.

The Latvian was introduced in the 68th minute against Gdansk, and provided the assist for Poznan’s second goal, scored by Gytkjaer.

Andrija Novakovich – SC Telstar (Eerste Divisie) Appearances: 12 Goals: 8

Novakovich has been on fire for Telstar this season, scoring three in eight before this month’s round of fixtures.

And things got even better for the young American, who bagged five goals in four games to take his tally to eight in twelve for the season.

He scored twice in a 4-3 win over Volendam, including a penalty in first half added time and one just two minutes after the break, before adding another goal just a week later, in the 41st minute of a 3-0 win over Dordrecht.

Novakovich scored again the following week, bagging the opener in a 2-1 win over Helmond Sport in the 5th minute, before capping an excellent month with a 33rd minute strike in a 4-0 demolition of Almere City.

And how about this for a bold take?

Sandro Wieser – KSV Roeselare (Belgian First Division B) Appearances: 3

Like Gravenberch, Wieser was absent from all of Roeselare’s fixtures this month.

LOAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Andrija Novakovich’s purple patch has been particularly noteworthy considering Reading’s struggles in the striker department, but his run of form has been more than enough to seal this week’s award in its own right.