Reading boss Ruben Selles has revealed that midfielder Michael Craig sent him a text alerting him of his ability to play at right-back, a switch which has garnered plenty of praise in the early stages of the season.

Craig- signed originally for the Academy in 2021- broke through under Paul Ince in 2022/23 but was a mainstay under Selles last season, featuring over 40 times.

A combative midfielder usually, injuries to Andy Yiadom and Kelvin Abrefa signalled a full-back crisis for the team, which centre-back Jeriel Dorsett already covering left-back for almost a year.

Little did supporters know that a text sent by Craig to his boss would bring about such a big impact on the squad.

"I would like to tell you that we worked really hard and we know that the players played before and put myself in a bigger space and not the reality," Selles joked with the Tilehurst End. The reality is that we have Kelvin Abrefa because Andy Yiadom has been injured since the last part of last season.

Kelvin Abrefa was our option in the right-back position but Kelvin got a small muscle injury in pre-season so we decided to use Tivonge Rushesha in that position. Tivonge Rushesha also got a small injury in pre-season.

"I had a day off and I got a message from Michael Craig and he asked to speak with me. I’m quite open with them so we had a good chat and he told me ‘I just called you because I think you should know that in the Tottenham academy, I played as a right-back, I know the position and I think I can play there if you need me at any time.’ In the past, we used centre-backs in that position. Jeriel Dorsett is a good full-back for us but he is a centre-back. On the right, with Tyler [Bindon] or Amadou [Mbengue] it worked but was not consistent.

We started modifying some training sessions for Michael to go into the right and we found it interesting. He can cope with the situations one-versus-one defensively but it’s a very big thing. He can cope with the crosses when he is the ‘ball away fullback’ which is very important in that position- he had a couple of situations in the last game against Charlton. The main thing is that he understands the game in possession, and he understands the game fully. He has a brain for football and from the very beginning, he adjusted to the position.

With Yiadom still without an expected return date, it could mark the beginning of a long-term switch to the back line for 21-year-old Craig.

Without a match this week due to international call-ups, the Royals return to action next Saturday at home to Leyton Orient.