Kaspars Gorkss has been Reading's only ever-present so far this season, starting all nine matches at the heart of the defence. Until last weekend's draw at QPR, the role alongside him was split equally between Alex Pearce and Adrian Mariappa: Pearce started the first four matches, then Mariappa got the nod for the subsequent four.
Last week saw Sean Morrison given a surprise start by Brian McDermott, and the 21-year-old performed excellently on his Premier League debut. If Gorkss and Morrison is to be Reading's new centre-back partnership, it's an odd development considering their first match together was in the astonishing 7-5 defeat to Arsenal in the Capital One Cup: hardly a promising start.
But Morrison was a huge presence in the opposition penalty box last weekend, with every corner kick aimed towards him, and he played a part in Gorkss' opening goal. Djibril Cisse got ahead of him for QPR's equaliser, but it was hardly a significant error from Morrison, who won the majority of aerial battles against the Frenchman.
Therefore, I think there's a good chance he'll start this weekend against Norwich. The Canaries will use Grant Holt upfront, so McDermott needs aerial ability at the back. Morrison is taller than both Pearce and Mariappa, with the latter being a better option against quick centre-forwards; not one of Holt's main features.
Pearce and Mariappa are sure to be given further opportunities before the end of the year, but based on last week's game at Loftus Road, Morrison deserves another chance in the side.
