A new season, a revamped stadium and a squad that BBC Radio Berkshire's Tim Dellor describes as having quality "not in doubt". On the face of it, Reading go into the new League One campaign in reasonable shape. The more pertinent question, as it has been for a while at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, is whether the squad is deep enough to sustain a promotion push across the full 46 games.

The case for optimism

Dellor's assessment points to several reasons to feel encouraged. The stadium has had significant investment over the summer: reseated stands, a new sound system and a relaid pitch, along with freshened dug-outs and a revamped tunnel. Chairman Rob Couhig described the newly painted seats as ones that "pop with colour". Whether aesthetics translate to results is another matter, but a better match-day environment can lift a club in ways that are hard to quantify.

On the pitch, the headline act is Jack Marriott, who scored 17 goals in 26 games last season. If he stays fit, Dellor suggests he could be the leading scorer in the division. That is a substantial if, but there is enough around him to make the attack look genuinely threatening. Kyreece Lisbie and Daniel Kyerewaa give Leam Richardson pace on both flanks, while Josh Stokes, on loan from Bristol City, provides creativity in the number ten role. In central midfield, Lewis Wing and either Andy Rinomhota or Charlie Savage offer a blend of guile and industry that would not look out of place in a top-six side.

Defensively, Paudie O'Connor is the experienced head at centre-back, with Benn Ward and Udoka Godwin-Malife offering cover and competition. Kelvin Abrefa is the young full-back to watch. And in goal, Joel Pereira is considered by many observers to be among the best keepers at this level. On paper, that starting eleven has genuine promotion credentials.

The depth problem

Here is where the scepticism has to creep in. A League One season is long, physical and unforgiving. Richardson would back himself with his first-choice eleven available every week. The difficulty is that, in recent seasons, Reading have called on closer to 30 players across a campaign rather than the 20 or so in the ideal starting line-up and immediate backup.

Dellor frames it starkly: keep the first choice eleven available for 35 or more of the 46 games, and promotion looks achievable. Drop below 25 and the season becomes a slog. That is not a particularly wide margin for error, and it places enormous weight on fitness and luck. Any honest assessment of Reading's recent history suggests the luck has not always been forthcoming.

What the fixture list will tell us

Four games is four games, as any honest observer of this division will tell you. The early weeks rarely settle anything, but they do reveal where squads are thin. If Richardson finds himself rotating heavily before September, the concern about depth will move from background noise to a genuine alarm. If, on the other hand, the first-choice group stays intact into autumn, the conversation shifts and Reading become credible contenders rather than perennial nearly-men.

The third tier has a habit of humbling pre-season favourites, and it has an equally reliable habit of rewarding squads that simply stay healthy. Reading may well have the quality. The 46-game test will find out whether they have the resilience to go with it.

Frequently asked

Can Reading win promotion from League One this season?
According to BBC Radio Berkshire's assessment, Reading have the quality in their starting eleven to compete for promotion, but squad depth is the key concern. If manager Leam Richardson can field his best side in 35 or more of the 46 league games, promotion looks achievable. Dip significantly below that and a top-six finish becomes much harder to guarantee.
Who are Reading's key players for the new League One season?
Jack Marriott is the standout name after scoring 17 goals in 26 games last season. Josh Stokes, on loan from Bristol City, provides creativity in midfield, while Lewis Wing and either Andy Rinomhota or Charlie Savage cover the engine room. Joel Pereira is widely regarded as one of the better goalkeepers in the division.
Who is Reading's manager for the new League One season?
Leam Richardson is the Reading manager heading into the new League One campaign.