Junior Hoilett looks ahead to Baggies clash...
With the Royals’ ending their home campaign this weekend with the visit of West Bromwich Albion, Junior Hoilett is pleased the team are playing for pride rather than scraping for safety.
The winger has played a crucial role in Paul Ince’s side’s successful battle to maintain their Sky Bet Championship status for another season and said they are looking forward to Saturday’s match.
“The team has done well, we have worked hard to get into a good position,” said Hoilett.
“With two games to spare knowing we’ll be in the Championship is a relief and a credit to the staff and the players.
“It has been good coming into training the last two weeks to enjoy it with no pressure on us and going out into the game to enjoy it.
“Just to finalise it and we’ve seen we’ve played the last few games with no pressure, and we try to enjoy it and play with freedom and the results have shown so it’s good to have it signed and sealed and enjoyed the last few weeks.”
The players are well rested ahead of the final home match of the season and Hoilett hopes to put on a display for the fans to end the season on a high.
“The breather was well needed, the staff included, so it is good to get some down time and spend some time with the family as well.
“We had to switch back on today as we still have two games left, we’ve got our last home game to put in a performance for our fans, so we’ve come back in try and get the mentality back on to go and put in a top performance.
“We have put ourselves in a good position to go out there and play with freedom and enjoy the match, we’ve got two games left and we’ve just got to make the most of it.”
The Royals are taking on a West Brom side that have gained some form of late under new boss Steve Bruce and with being in the Premier League last season Hoilett knows they have some quality players in their squad including striker Andy Carroll, who spent two months at RG2 earlier this campaign.
“They have a good squad, just like us we have a great squad here too and we’ve just got to enjoy it and give them a challenge.
“We know what he is about and I’m sure he’ll get a warm welcome, he did well when he was here for a short period and it’ll be good to rough him up and hopefully get the result against him as well, as that’s what it’s all about to end the season on a high”!
Finally, the winner of the ‘Goal of the Season’ award will be announced next Wednesday with Hoilett’s effort against Derby County shortlisted and the Canadian international knows he has stiff competition to land the award!
“I saw them on Instagram, I got tagged in them, so hopefully I get the winner’s medal out of it as there has been some great goals scored this season so hopefully the fans vote for me!
“But there is a few, Josh’s was a good one against Blackburn, also Tom Holmes’ overhead kick was a decent one against Hull as well.
“There’s been a few from Swifty as well so there have been a few good goals this year!”