Middlesbrough midfielder Patrick Reading has said he’d be open to an SPFL loan move.
The Boro man is a Scotland U21 international but is finding minutes on the domestic scene hard to come by. He has only featured for Boro’s youth sides and is yet to taste any senior football.
A versatile player who can play either at left-back or left midfield, as well as a central midfield role, he has recently said he would be willing to move north in the winter.
“The plan was to go out on loan in the summer but that did not happen,” Reading told the Herald (sport, page 2, 14/11/19).
“Now I will wait until January. I’d come up to Scotland on loan. I’ve grown up watching Scottish football and I know a lot about it.”
Reading seems open to an SPFL switch, but where could the Middlesbrough midfielder go?
Hamilton
Accies are well known for giving youth a chance so perhaps South Lanarkshire could be one destination for Reading.
His versatility could be a plus for Brian Rice if he is looking to strengthen his Accies side, who are operating on a tight budget.
The Middlesbrough connection is already there too, with Sam Stubbs currently performing really well for Rice. Stubbs’ development will have shown Boro that Accies are a reliable team to send their young talent to.
Ayr United
Mark Kerr will look to put his stamp on the Ayr United team in January and will likely look to bring in reinforcements.
Reading could be one of those. Ayr are no strangers to using the loan system, with four players currently on loan at the club.
They could be doing with a defensive midfielder also and Reading can operate in that role, as he has done for Scotland U21s. Being able to fill in at left-back would also be a nice bonus.
Inverness
Carl Tremarco has again been John Robertson’s starting left-back in Inverness, but perhaps Reading could provide him with competition and a chance to rest.
Again there is a Middlesbrough link already established, with Mitchell Curry currently in the Highlands.
Robertson has also used seven different central midfield combinations this term, so there would likely be room for Reading to fill in at central midfield too.