Championship side Reading host League Two play-off semi-finalists Colchester United at the Madejski Stadium.

Just eight weeks after the culmination of the 2019/20 campaign, the 2020/21 season gets underway with the first round of the EFL Cup.

Despite having a condensed pre-season, the hosts still managed to fit in a removal of CEO, Nigel Howe, and removal of manager Mark Bowen in what was termed 'restructuring' at the football club.

It is now another leap into the unknown as the club appointed former Chicago Fire boss Veljko Paunovic, making him the eighth permanent manager at the club since their return to the second tier in 2013.

However, due to government quarantine guidelines, Paunovic will be unable to attend, and so the responsibility of managing the side falls to assistant Eddie Niedzwiecki. 

He had his own brief spell managing the club in 1991 after the dismissal of Ian Porterfield.

He won one, drew one and lost five of his seven matches in charge.

There has also been movement in the coaching department for Saturday's visitors, with John McGreal being dismissed after the play-off defeat and his assistant, Steve Ball, taking over. Also, former Reading player Hayden Mullins has joined the coaching staff for the Essex-based side.

Key Battle

According to Serbian journalist Nebojša Marković in a BerkshireLive story, Paunovic, who the players themselves have only spent little over a week with in person, explained that Reading fans should expect to see a team who like to control possession. He said:

"At Chicago Fire, his primary formation was a modern 4-3-3, he sometimes used a 4-2-3-1, but he was also at times switching to formations with three centre-backs.

"His style of play is possession based, he likes to put a stamp on the way his team plays, to have the ball on the ground as much as possible."

With the players having had no more than four or five training sessions with the new boss expect to see this style as a work in progress.

However if fans expect Colchester to turn up just to make the numbers, they are going to be disappointed.

Last season this travelling side reached the quarter-final stage of this competition, knocking out Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspurs en-route to a defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

If the U's approach the game with the same vigour as they did in last season's tournament, it has the makings of a close contest.

Last Meeting

The last time these two teams played was back in 2015 at the Colchester Community Stadium, in the first round of that year's EFL Cup.

Former club stalwart Chris Gunter scored the only goal of the game in extra-time as the hosts fell at the first hurdle for the fifth straight season.

However the two sides have met more recently in the shape of the EFL Trophy, in which a Colchester United XI faced a Reading Under-21 side. It finished 2-2 but the hosts won on penalties in a tournament which both sides would fall at the group stage.

Team News

With a full week before both sides are in action following the match, both are expected to field strong sides, according to Berkshire Live.

Reading will definitely be without young defender Tom McIntyre and striker George Puscas as they are both away on international duty.

Also, last season's top scorer Yakou Meite was sent off against Swansea City on the final day of last season so will be suspended for the match.

Former Royal Callum Harriott is expected to play against his old side. 

He made 30 appearances in three injury hit years at the club.

Harry Pell is likely to lead the team out having been given the captaincy the day before the match.

Pre Match Thoughts

Speaking to the club website, U's manager Ball is expecting a tough match against the Championship side:

"They've got a new manager, with proven pedigree. They've got really good Championship players, they're going to present us with a really tough game."

Having knocked out two Premier League opponents last season, the 51-year-old is looking to be a giant-killer again this time around:

"Anyone that was with the group last year and had such brilliant nights and occasions will want more of that, and this could be the start of that again. We turn back to those experiences which were great times and hopefully we can do it again."

Speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire, former Royal Harriott said:

"I was very excited when the draw was made and I'm looking forward to it.

"I've always had a lot of love and respect for Reading so I'm looking forward to it.

"It should be a good game and we've had a good run previously in the cup before.

"I do feel like I have a lot of potential to show but my time there came to an end so there's not much I could have done really it was just unfortunate".

How to Watch

The match is available to watch on iFollow for £10.

Kick off is scheduled for 15:00 BST.