Tshibola Makes Hartlepool Debut

05 January 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?

There's been some minor action in the transfer market as sides up and down the country begin hunting for players before the transfer window closes on 2nd February 2015.

Goalkeeper Jonathan Henly has extended his loan stay at non-league Welling United where he links up with former Reading player Glen Little who has signed on as a player. Henly has clocked up 12 starts and an additional appearance off the bench after arriving on loan at Welling in September.

Aaron Tshibola made his debut for Hartlepool United on Saturday after completing a one-month loan signing on Friday. Hartlepool are rooted to the bottom of League Two and recorded a respectable 0-1 defeat at league leaders Wycombe Wanderers. Midfielder Tshibola completed the full 90 minutes in what was only his second competitive senior appearance. His only other game was for Reading in August when he came off the bench during the 0-4 trashing at Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile, Glenn Murray marked his return to Crystal Palace with an immediate start as his side ran out 4-0 winners in their FA Cup third round fixture at Dover. Murray nearly found himself on the scoresheet early on under the watch of new manager Alan Pardew. Only the most optimistic fan could predict that Murray will return to Reading during the January transfer window. Murray went out on a high last weekend, as his successful loan spell came to an end, with a very impressive performance during the 2-1 win over Norwich - which we have to assume will be his last in a Reading shirt.

As Murray returned to Palace, Royston Drenthe returned to Reading from his loan at Sheffield Wednesday. However, it seems unlikely that Drenthe features in Clarke's plans and the club will be looking to do their best to off-load the player during January. A permanent move away looks on the cards with Drenthe set to leave England.

The club announced that there was money available for the signing of Murray last month. If he's not coming back then fans will still be expecting that budget to be made available to new manager Steve Clarke as he looks to make changes to his squad. If Royston Drenthe is also leaving then that should further free up the wage bill to allow Clarke to spend. Reading have been infamously inactive in recent transfer windows, but the stage feels set for some changes, however small, as Clarke looks to continue the revival at Reading FC.

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