Shaun Goater managed 25 minutes of Championship football on Saturday - his longest spell on the field in the league all season.

The Bermudian frontman, who has has been languishing on the bench and in the reserves all season for Reading, was finally given some substantial game time by boss Steve Coppell in a 3-1 win over Gillingham.

Goater - replacing under-the-weather Nicky Forster in the 65th minute - put in a powerful display and was unlucky not to score in the closing minutes, producing a fine save from Gills ‘keeper Steve Banks.

Dave Kitson, who along with Forster has formed Coppell's preferred strike pairing, bagged a hat-trick in the victory at the Madjeski Stadium that pushed the Royals up to second place in the division.

It has been a tough season for Goater, having been given just one start so far - a League Cup derby against Oxford in which he scored. For much of the time he has only been fed scraps as Coppell has taken to bringing on the former Manchester City striker in the 88th or 90th minute in recent weeks.