‘Still our player’: Reading boss’ clear transfer message over...

Despite intense Championship interest in the winger, Noel Hunt has stated that Harvey Knibbs is “still a Reading

player.”

The Royals manager said the rumoured Pompey target will miss their preseason friendly against the Blues at the

Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday, which will undoubtedly add to the rumours surrounding the 26-year-old’s

future.

The former Aston Villa talent is believed to be on the radar of John Mousinho’s side as well as Sheffield United and

Oxford United.

But Hunt has reiterated the in-demand forward remains with the Berkshire outfit and continues to train as he

returns from a knock, which was sustained at the back-end of last term.

Why Harvey Knibbs will miss Pompey game amid interest

Hunt, the current manager of the Royals and a former Pompey striker, told the Reading Chronicle: “Harvey is still

our player and here, training on the grass.” He is in full training, but according to the physiotherapists, he isn’t quite

ready to play this weekend. He is still a Reading player, as far as I know, and I haven’t been told otherwise.

“I would prefer it if something were to occur sooner so that we could make plans to get the team that will be present

as tight as possible. If it is going to happen, it has to happen in the next week or so or we will plan for him to be here

and keep him.’

The Royals ace netted 16 goals and provided four assists in League One last term, which has alerted a number of

Championship clubs as he enters the final 12 months of his current deal.

After missing Reading’s friendly against Spurs last week as he continued his recovery from a knock, Hunt revealed

there is interest from the second tier in his star man.

“Harvey is recovering from his injury,” Hunt stated.

We’ve obviously shown interest in Harv, but we’ll have to wait and see how he feels. The arrival of a Championship

club is sure to draw attention.

He plays for us. A bid must be good and worthwhile if the player scores 16 goals in a season. Harv has been informed

that it is appropriate to remove him if a bid is made that is significant. He won’t be going otherwise.

He just returned to the pitch the day before yesterday due to a bone bruise on his foot from Bristol Rovers the

previous season, which he battled during the Barnsley match.

He had an injection last Monday, and it began to break up and loosen up a little after it hadn’t moved over the

summer. He is two or three weeks behind everyone else since he was on the grass during yesterday’s passing drill.