2 potential knock-on effects at Reading FC as club secure 26-year-old transfer agreement

Championship side Reading have secured the services of centre-back Terell Thomas until the end of the season, it was confirmed by the club yesterday.

The 26-year-old had been a free agent since the end of January after terminating his contract at League One strugglers Crewe Alexandra, failing to make an impact there but earning himself a trial with the Royals.

Playing multiple times for the club’s Under-23s, he was deemed good enough and sufficiently fit to be a first-teamer, coming in to provide depth to a defence that has struggled for form and with injuries throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

In fact, they currently hold the second-worst defensive record in the second-tier so far this season, a damning indictment of their performances and their supporters will be hoping the 26-year-old can come in and shore things up.

This signing will have brought mixed emotions in the Berkshire side’s fanbase with depth in this position much-needed but some perhaps sceptical of his lack of experience at this level.

Regardless of their thoughts though, this addition has now been confirmed and with this, we have selected two knock-on effects that could happen at the Select Car Leasing Stadium as a result of the defender’s arrival.

McIntyre left out in the cold

Defender Tom McIntyre was recalled to the starting lineup after Baba Rahman’s injury last month, being asked to fill in for the Ghanaian despite left-back not being his natural position.

And at times, the fact it isn’t his most comfortable position has been noticeable, sometimes being beaten for pace like he was within 20 seconds against Nottingham Forest as they were able to force their way in front early on.

Rahman is due to return at some point after the international break and