THOROUGHBREDS Reading should last the distance if they can negotiate the early going.

That’s the verdict of Dougie Freedman, whose Wanderers team are attempting to become the first to beat the Royals since their relegation from the top flight.

Former Whites loanee Danny Guthrie scored the winner against Ipswich Town last weekend – a 2-1 victory masterminded by summer signing Royston Drenthe, the unpredictable former Real Madrid winger who was one of the key signings this summer.

Others, such as ex-England full-back Wayne Bridge, have made Nigel Adkins’ side the ones to beat in the bookies’ eyes.

And with the likes of Wigan and Nottingham Forest also flashing the chequebook with regularity over the last couple of weeks, Freedman believes that kind of investment could be key at the start of the campaign.

“Round the corner at Wigan I think that’s the 12th signing he’s made this summer,” the Whites boss reflected. “Don’t get me wrong – I think I was favourite to get relegated last season with Palace and they ended up getting promoted, so I don’t read anything into opinions.

“I look at facts. The facts are that the Nottingham Forests and the Wigans have spent a lot of money, and to an extent, so have Reading.

“They are a Premier League outfit and if they start well in the first 15 games then they will be favourites.

“We understand this is a very difficult game for us. This is one of the teams we will be fighting for one of the top six positions.

“But on saying that, we’re starting to get a group of players together who are getting stronger. We got a couple of good results last week and a few guys are getting fitter, so at the Reebok we can give anyone a game.”