‘I was trying to tell him to relax’: Reading boss on return of ‘massive character’

Reading boss Noel Hunt admitted he was trying to tell the returning Amadou Mbengue to ‘relax’ with a busy festive fixture list to come.

The popular defender returned to the side after missing last week’s defeat at Lincoln City due to a concussion, and was a standout in Boxing Day’s 4-1 victory against Northampton Town.

Regularly diving into heavy tackles and driving from back to front with the ball at his feet, ‘Cheeseburger’ returned to the side as if he never left.

“I was trying to tell him to relax- you’ve got a game in 72 hours,” Hunt stated after the game. “He is fantastic, a huge personality, and an excellent competitor. He is quick, active, and a valuable asset to us. I thought he was fantastic today, as was Tyler Bindon, and they all were.

“Even the substitutes who came on made an impact. We had to huff and puff, but Jayden came on and made a difference up front, keeping the ball and winning headers; on another day, with the attacks we had, we could have scored one or two.”
Mansfield Town will make their first visit to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Sunday, with both sides seeking to improve their chances of finishing in the top six.

Nigel Clough’s squad is back in League One for the first time since 2003, having last played in Reading in April 1993.