Reading have been one of the surprise packages of the season as they remain in the heart of the play-off picture, and the Berkshire side still have a very good chance of returning to the Premier League.
After finishing 17th in the Championship last season, very few were expecting Reading to be contending for promotion.
However, the brave appointment of the relatively inexperienced Jaap Stam has proved to be successful as the Dutch manager has revitalised the club.
Two extremely successful transfer windows and the composition of a squad capable of competing at the top have helped build on the reinvigoration and revitalisation that Jaap Stam has brought.
Despite the success Reading have had so far this season, there are some players who have drifted to the outer fringes of Reading's squad.
These players may feel that they could still play a major role in the run-in.
FLW writer Elliott Wheat-Bowen looks at TWO Reading fringe players who Jaap Stam is missing a trick not utilising...
Tennai Watson
Having emerged from Reading's academy, 19-year-old defender Tennai Watson has been one of the hottest prospects coming out of Reading's academy.
Tennai Watson broke through Reading's academy in 2015, however, Watson has had to wait until this season to make his senior debut for the club.
The versatile defender has shown in the Championship that he is comfortable and capable playing in either full-back role as he played at left-back against Preston North End, and his more natural right back position against Huddersfield Town.
Despite being supremely talented, Tennai Watson has had limited opportunities this season as he has been used sparingly by Jaap Stam.
However, a dip in consistency and performances by Chris Gunter means that Tennai Watson could be given the opportunity to offer genuine competition to the Welsh international.
Although Watson is currently on the peripheries of the squad as one of the most inexperienced members, Stam may be missing a trick not utilising the promising defender, especially if Gunter's performances continue to not improve.
Deniss Rakels
As one of the standout performers in the Polish Ekstraklasa last season having scored 15 goals and provided three assists in just 20 games for Cracovia Krakow, Rakels earned his move to Championship side Reading.
Although Rakels made only 12 appearances last season since making the move to England in the January transfer window, he did score on three occasions.
However, following the arrival of Yann Kermorgant and latterly Lewis Grabban, Latvian international Deniss Rakels has drifted to the peripheries of Reading's squad.
This season Rakels has made only two appearances in the Championship, one of which was a start and the other was off the bench, both came at the very start of the season.
The main reason for Rakels exclusion was the severe ankle injury he sustained in Reading's victory over MK Dons in the EFL Cup second round.
As Rakels nears closer to a return, he could be a player who has drifted to the margins of the squad who Stam may be missing a trick not utilising, when he has returned to full fitness.