Matt Ritchie joined Reading from Pompey last week - but he’s having to wait to make his Royals debut
Matt Ritchie’s summer on the sidelines at Pompey means he’s some catching up to do fitness-wise before he can make his debut for new club Reading.
That’s the message from the Royals’ first-team coaching set up as the League One outfit make plans to unleash the former Newcastle and Bournemouth attacker on their third-tier rivals.
https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/portsmouth-fc-news-franco-umeh-crystal-palace-deadline-day-transfers-championship-5297996
Last term, when the Blues finished 16th in the Championship, Ritchie featured 40 times for the Blues in the league, with 29 of those coming as starts. But with Mousinho open to rehuffling his forward options at the beginning of pre-season, both Ritchie and the club agreed to a mutual parting of ways.
That decision saw the winger play no part in Pompey’s pre-season programme, or feature in any competitive features following the Championship’s return on August 9. In addition, Ritchie didn’t train with his Blues teamw-mates while he and his represenatitives sought a move away from Fratton Park.
That hard work and patience paid off when Reading boss Noel Hunt agreed to welcome the former Scotland international to Berkshire, with Ritchie penning a two-year deal.
But according to Royal coach Mikele Leigertwood, Ritchie needs to get down to further hard work before making his Reading debut.
Matt Ritchie waits on Reading debut after move from Pompey
Ritchie watched on from the stands as Reading beat Port Vale on Saturday to record their first League One win of the season.
The victory - thanks to Paddy Lane’s spectacular second-half effort - saw them move up to 17th in the table after previously occupying a relegation place over the opening three games of the campaign
Reading have no game this weekend because of the international break, with their next fixture being a EFL Trophy game against another one of Ritchie’s former clubs, Swindon, next Tuesday night.
There’s no doubt both the player and Reading will earmark that game for a potential debut. But according to Leigertwood, Ritchie needs to build up his levels first.
‘He’s a fit lad so over this period, with the Northampton game not being on, we will give him some good sessions and hopefully get him up to speed for when that next game comes around.’
Life after Matt Ritchie at Pompey
Ritchie’s last game for Pompey came on the final day of the 2024-25 season against Hull, with the 35-year-old replacing the injured Harvey Blair early in the first half.
Blair remains on the Blues’ injured list with the hamstring issue he picked up that afternoon. He’s since been joined in the treatment room by fellow hamstring victim Callum Lang, who started both of Pompey’s first two league games of the season in the right-wing berth previously occupied by Ritchie.
In his absence, which could be up to 12 weeks, the Blues played loanee Florian Bianchini there against Preston North End. Fellow summer arivals Adrian Segecic, Minyeok Yang and Franco Umeh will also be expected to feature wide right as the season progresses.
Abdoulaye Kamara and Tom McIntyre have both left Fratton Park since Ritchie’s exit was confirmed.
Continue Reading