Despite enduring an absolute spanking at Craven Cottage over the weekend, Reading have had a stormer of a season so far.

A Jaap Stam revolution over the summer has lead the way for an absolutely outstanding season so far following some heavy recruitment, particularly from Holland, which has been the basis of a shock push for a promotion.

The plaudits have come in for Stam and his players who have really raised the bar for the Royals from attempting to escape relegation once more to pushing for promotion back to the Premier League.

Though players like Liam Moore, Ali Al-Habsi, John Swift and Garath McCleary have all performed extremely well so far this season, some players still need to raise their game if they are to remain a part of Reading's promotion push.

Here are TWO players who Stam needs to get more out of if Reading are really to push towards promotion....

 

Chris Gunter

Scoring an own goal in their game against Fulham on the weekend, Chris Gunter could be targeted as one of the weaker points of Jaap Stam's starting eleven.

His commitment can't be question; he's played well over 80 games during 2016 and playing through injury in order to turn out for the Royals, but that may have taken its toll on his form.

Gunter to raise his game both attacking and defensive wise for Reading or he may face replacement as the club look towards January to strengthen their Premier League push.

Roy Beerens

Roy Beerens joined Reading over the summer from German side Hertha Berlin and has been a mainstay in Jaap Stam's side throughout the season, enjoying a particularly strong vein of form at the beginning of the year.

But his position in the side has come under particular scrutiny in recent weeks as his form has taken a small dive.

Beerens' issue comes with consistency.

If he can keep his performance levels up at a high level regularly, his position certainly won't come under fire.