Reading centre-back Liam Moore has hit out at the "lies and stories" said about him since he was stripped of the captaincy, issuing a message on his Instagram story.

Putting out a statement in January last year, the club claimed that the Jamaican had asked for a move away from the Select Car Leasing Stadium and with that in mind, they decided to remove him from the captain's role.

He was sent out on loan to Stoke City during the latter stages of that month, with Tom Ince coming the other way as he joined the Berkshire outfit temporarily, with father Paul then linking up with the Royals in February.

 

 

Ince Jr's loan spell was a success and he joined permanently last summer - but Moore's loan exit didn't work out with the defender making just six competitive appearances for the Potters before an injury ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Due to multiple setbacks, he only returned to action yesterday evening, coming on during the final few minutes of the game against Sheffield United and being greeted by a mixed reception, with some of the home crowd deciding to boo him.

Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, he couldn't make a difference against the Blades but was delighted to have finally made his return after spending so long on the sidelines.

He posted: "353 days injured. 451 days since last [my] Reading game. Setback after setback.

"So many lies and stories said about me. But real ones know the truth. And that's now history.

"I've been so determined to get back and play my part. It's now a big couple of months for us. Let's go boys."

The Verdict:

You can understand both sides of the argument here.

If the Royals have told the truth about the defender seeking a move away, you could understand why the supporters are unhappy because he put in a transfer request during the summer of 2018 as well.

As captain, he should have shown 100% loyalty to the club, especially after signing a long-term contract back in 2018 with that deal only expiring this summer.

However, personal reasons could have influenced his decision to ask for a move away and that might be why some supporters aren't keen to criticise him too much.

As well as this, he has worked extremely hard to get back on the pitch after sustaining such a severe injury and should be commended for his commitment because the recovery phase would have been a tough one for him, not just physically but mentally as well.

Getting booed by some of your own fans isn't the nicest experience and it will be interesting to see whether he continues to receive a hostile reception for the remainder of the campaign.