Joao Virginia joined Reading on a season-long loan in mid-July to get regular first-team football at a level best-suited for his development. The 19-year-old has great potential at Everton, but he was unlikely to be given opportunities over Jordan Pickford, Maarten Stekelenburg and Jonas Lossl. Unfortunately for Virginia, his move to Reading hasn’t gone to plan either.
The Portuguese u21 international made two Championship appearances for the Royals at the start of the campaign and hasn’t featured since. Virginia played for 90 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City, conceding five goals for his troubles. He was dropped by José Manuel Gomes and Reading haven’t lost in any competition since.
Reading’s results with Virginia
- 3/8/19: Reading 1-3 Sheff Wed (Championship)
???? TEAM NEWS ????
⚽ Here's the Royals' squad to face visiting @swfc at Madejski Stadium today…
News in full ???? #REAvSHW
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 3, 2019
- 10/8/19: Hull City 2-1 Reading (Championship)
???? TEAM NEWS ????
???? Our lineup to face @HullCity
???? Debuts for 3️⃣ players from the start this afternoon#HULvREA pic.twitter.com/AVBoy28Byg
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 10, 2019
Reading’s results without Virginia
- 13/8/19: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1p Reading (EFL Cup)
???? TEAM NEWS ????
A debut for @RAFAELCABRAL90 this evening between the sticks, and a first involvement for @Ejaria since his Royals return as he makes the XI.
The team in full ???? pic.twitter.com/1piVwdj0b3
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 13, 2019
- 18/8/19: Reading 3-0 Cardiff (Championship)
⏰ TEAM NEWS
Your #Royals to take on @CardiffCityFC this lunchtime…#REAvCAR pic.twitter.com/iZzwmUFK6D
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 18, 2019
- 21/8/19: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Reading (Championship)
???? TEAM NEWS ????
One change to the Starting XI as Lucas Boyé comes in to replace Lucas João
And a foot injury for @Yaks75 forces him out of tonight's squad; @DannyNamaso takes a place among the subs#WBAvREA pic.twitter.com/TqjW56G47g
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 21, 2019
- 24/8/19: Huddersfield Town 0-2 Reading (Championship)
???? TEAM NEWS ????
1️⃣ change to our Starting 1️⃣1️⃣ with Lucas João starting
Kick-off in 1️⃣ hour! Who's ready? ????♂️#HUDvREA pic.twitter.com/XCdEWm8AVx
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 24, 2019
- 27/8/19: Plymouth 2-4 Reading (EFL Cup)
⏰ TEAM NEWS ⏰@JordanObita starts as captain, and we have a new @RFCAcademy graduate in Akin Odimayo ????#PLYvREA pic.twitter.com/ZfQ3xgxNYH
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) August 27, 2019
Without Virginia between the sticks, Reading have conceded only four goals in five games. He’s been stuck on the bench for Reading’s last three league outings and isn’t even making the starting eleven for EFL Cup games. Everton won’t be pleased to see their highly-rated stopper stagnating on the bench, but there’s still plenty of the season remaining for Virginia to turn things around.