Harvey Knibbs on returning to the Abbey Stadium as we take on Cambridge on Monday evening
One player who certainly knows a bit about Monday’s opposition is Harvey Knibbs. He spent four years with the U’s – the last two playing alongside Sam Smith too.
But all the niceties will cease abruptly when kick-off comes. It’s all about trying to secure points for the Royals!
“It’ll be really nice to go back – and so early in the season as well,” Harvey said.
“The last time I was on the pitch, it was when Cambridge retained status in the division… and there was a pitch invasion! So it’ll be a bit weird for me to go back, and see lots of familiar faces and the fans from where I spent the last four years of my career.
“Cambridge was my first real home in football – where I did my developing and gained all the experience I’ve got, and played 150-plus games. I owe a lot to that club and I’ve still got a good relationship there.
“I had a good start and a good end to my time there. I was involved in a successful time in Cambridge’s future and it was respected mutually. Now I’m on the next chapter in my career, and I hope to emulate something similar in my time at Reading.
“It’s a real shame that Sam’s not available… we were both really looking forward to it as soon as the fixture list came out. I shared a lot of memories with him at Cambridge and it would have been nice to share the pitch with him also in a good atmosphere. But I know he’s doing really well in his rehab so hopefully he’s back fit and firing soon.
“On Monday… it’s strictly business, 100%! I’ll shake some hands and say ‘hi’ to a few people. But when that whistle goes, we’ll go to battle on the pitch.”
And he knows what kind of test to expect on Monday evening in front of the Sky cameras – a challenging away tie, but hopefully a chance to register some much-needed points on the road. And maybe even to make it back-to-back games with a goal to his name!
“They have had a good start and they’ve recruited well,” Knibbs continued. “They’ve got a good spine, and the home form is something they can lean on. So it’ll be a tricky game, but one I’m really looking forward to.
“For us, our away record is something we’ve spoken about and we need to address – it’s key in all successful seasons. You have to be good at home, but you also have to pick up those points on the road also.
“It was unfortunate in the way we ended the last game at Exeter, but we’ll learn from it, lift ourselves up, and look to pick up some points on Monday night.
“When you start at a new club, you want to tick that first goal off – a building block for what comes next! So I’m glad that I got it early into the campaign… but it was bittersweet. I am a team player first, and the result is the only thing that matters to me. I’d have chalked off my goal for any kind of result in that game.
“But I’ve got my first goal – and hopefully it is the first of many!”