Everton News

Official: Joao Virginia loan update

|

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)

  • 10/8/19: Hull City 2-1 Reading (Championship)

Reading’s results without Virginia

  • 13/8/19: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1p Reading (EFL Cup)

  • 18/8/19: Reading 3-0 Cardiff (Championship)

  • 21/8/19: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Reading (Championship)

  • 24/8/19: Huddersfield Town 0-2 Reading (Championship)

  • 27/8/19: Plymouth 2-4 Reading (EFL Cup)

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.

Read Crippy Cooke’s previous article

Share this article

Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.