Beattie sessions 'paying off' for Royals' Marriott

Reading manager Leam Richardson has joked that Jack Marriott could score every 40 minutes and praised the League One top-scorer's work with first-team coach James Beattie.

Marriott, 32, has eight goals in six league matches this season, putting the well-travelled striker three goals ahead of anyone else in the division despite having played a game less than the next-most prolific players in the third tier.

"He's working really hard and really well with James Beattie through the day on individual moments within the game," Richardson said of former England forward Beattie's influence.

"You can see the dividends and that it's paying off. If we can get him down to a goal every 40 minutes, that'd be really pleasing."

Richardson also praised forwards Jamie Reid and Jacob Brown, calling competition for places "everything".

"It keeps everybody at a really high level," said Richardson, who hopes to guide his team as high as third with victory on Saturday (15:00 BST) at a Wycombe Wanderers side featuring former Royals forward Jayden Wareham.

"Our back four or six will have to be on their game because [Wareham's] a very good player.

"He was very liked around the place by the players and staff, so I'm led to believe.

"Fingers crossed we can keep him quiet and he doesn't score any goals and doesn't play very well."

Wycombe are a point behind ninth-placed Reading, having won successive league matches since Tom Hounsell replaced Michael Duff on an interim basis on 8 September.

"They've got really good individual players and recruited well last season and into this season," said Richardson.

"It's a challenge we'll be ready for and will really relish. If our level of performance is consistent, it will be a really good game."