By Mark Sugar
March 14 2004

Jamie Ashdown is set to earn a recall to Reading after Marcus Hahnemann was rated extremley doubtful for the clash to Cardiff City with medial ligaments damage.Ashdown has been on-loan at Rushden & Diamonds for the past 2 months.

His contract is up at the end of the season but Jamie Ashdown could force his way into Steve Coppell's plans and be offered a new contract.

The local goalkeeper has had to play 2nd fiddle for Marcus Hahnemann and Phil Whitehead in the past and hasn't really had a chance to shine in the 1st team. He was sent out on loan at Christmas time by Steve Coppell to Rushden and Diamonds in order to get match practice and now he is fit and raring to return back to Reading if Steve Coppell decides he needs him back.

This comes after 1st choice goalie Marcus Hahnemann was taken off injured in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Stoke City. Hahnemann appeared to damage medial ligaments and is now a major doubt for the trip to Cardiff. Jamie Young stepped in after replacing the bald yank and produced a world class save from a John Halls header.

Ashdown is out of contract at the end of the season and with a family to look after now he will be desperate to secure his future. He has produced some very encouraging performances and earned a Player of the Month award with a local newspaper.

But sending Ashdown out on-loan will have had a great effect and with having games under his belt, he should be back in the fold and will give Steve Coppell plenty to think about.

Should he stay and be offered a new deal, it will come as 1 big surprise. Coppell has already sold Darius Henderson to Gillingham, John Mackie to Leyton Orient and Nathan Tyson to Wycombe Wanderers and more faces are expected to depart including Kevin Watson and Omar Daley.