Andy Rinomhota has called on Reading to stay grounded after a strong start to their League One campaign, insisting there is still more to come from him personally as he builds towards peak fitness.

The 29-year-old midfielder re-joined the Royals in late 2025 but managed only three league appearances in the second half of last season. This term has been a different story. Rinomhota has featured in all four of Reading's league fixtures so far, and his settled presence in Leam Richardson's engine room has coincided with a sharp upturn in results.

"I'm very happy to be back playing regular football," he told BBC Radio Berkshire. "I think I'm showing now in my performances which have been good. I'm just hoping I can keep building my momentum now and keep getting that regularity in the team which makes a difference."

A slow start turned around

Reading's season began with a defeat against Luton and a draw at Wimbledon, but the side has since posted back-to-back home wins in emphatic fashion. First came a 5-0 dismantling of Mansfield, then a victory over Blackpool last weekend. Six points from a possible six at the Select Car Leasing Stadium has given Richardson's squad a platform to build from, but Rinomhota was quick to urge caution.

"Especially after you do have a good win it can be easy to get carried away," he said. "A lot of our performances so far have been good, especially the Mansfield result which was very convincing. We have to stay level headed, keep doing the things that we are doing and make sure that we don't get carried away."

The warning is well timed. Reading travel to Cambridge United on Saturday (15:00) with the hosts having lost only once this season, making it a genuine test of whether the Royals' improvement is sustainable away from home. It is a fixture that also speaks to one of the concerns raised recently within the club: Roberts among others has pointed to Reading's away form as an area that must improve if they are to mount a serious promotion push.

Fitness the final piece

For Rinomhota, the bigger picture is about his own arc. After a disrupted return to the club, he is now at a point where he feels he can influence games consistently rather than simply contribute when called upon.

"I'm at a good level but I've still got more to give," he said. "Hopefully that should show in the next three to four games now I'm at the peak of my fitness."

That kind of incremental confidence matters in the third tier, where the schedule rarely allows a squad to catch its breath. Rinomhota himself acknowledged the relentless nature of the division.

"We have to take it game by game and they come very quick in this league," he said. "Things can change so quickly in a three-game week."

What it means for Richardson's plans

A midfielder who plays regularly and is still improving his fitness levels is a significant asset for any League One manager. Richardson has leaned on Rinomhota's experience to bring composure to a midfield that, on its best days, has been one of the more dominant units in the division this season.

With the Cambridge trip on the horizon and the league table still taking shape in the early weeks, Saturday's away day could be a useful indicator of whether Reading are genuine contenders or a side still finding their feet. On current evidence, and with Rinomhota expecting his best form still to come, the optimism around the club appears to be grounded in something real.

Frequently asked

Has Andy Rinomhota played every game for Reading this season?
Yes. Rinomhota has featured in all four of Reading's League One fixtures so far this campaign, having re-joined the club in late 2025 and made only three appearances in the second half of last season.
What are Reading's results in League One so far this season?
Reading lost their opener against Luton and drew away at Wimbledon, but have since beaten Mansfield 5-0 and Blackpool to pick up six consecutive points heading into their trip to Cambridge.
When do Reading play Cambridge United?
Reading travel to Cambridge United on Saturday at 15:00.