Reading FC’s summer signing Charlie Adam has labelled Leeds United as one of the clubs his new outfit should target next season, as told to the Royals’ official website.
The Madejski Stadium natives fought off relegation during the recent campaign to end the term seven points clear of the drop zone, having won just ten of their 46 second-tier encounters.
Automatic promotion out of the Championship, on the other hand, was a distant 42 points away – just five fewer than Reading achieved – while the final Play-Off spot taken by Derby County was 27 points away.
Adam is not short of belief that the Royals can achieve more next season following his switch from Stoke City as a free agent, though, and intends to see his new side challenge his former and United for promotion in 2019/20.
“I want to be getting up the league, and challenging the big clubs like Stoke City, West Brom and Leeds United,” he said.
“They are the teams everybody will think will be at the top of the league, but why can’t Reading surprise someone?
“Everybody will probably have Reading as close to relegation or favourites [to go down], but I was at Blackpool, and we were favourites to get relegated, and we got promoted to the Premier League.
“Reading is a much bigger club than Blackpool in terms of the infrastructure and how it’s built. So if we can get momentum and get the young players tuned in and ready to go, then they can play with a freedom and enjoyment and excitement.
“The biggest thing is to play with a smile on your face and enjoy it. You’re not going to be great every week, but they have to work hard for the team and the supporters will appreciate that.”
Former Scotland international Adam knows all about not playing every week, having been awarded just twelve outings in the Championship during what proved to be his final season with Stoke.
The 33-year-old also began the campaign as part of the Potter’s Premier League 2 youth side, where he scored the only goal of his term against West Brom’s U23s in a 4-1 win.
Adam will now be hoping for a change of fortunes with Reading, who Leeds will face at the Madejski on November 26, before the Royals come to Elland Road on February 22.