SIDELINED full-back Marcus Williams will be adopting a watching brief tonight.

It is a role he is more than adept at, having failed to nail down a starting spot at tonight's opponents Reading, while recently suffering from a back complaint since joining Scunthorpe United on loan until the end of the season.

Not able to play against the Royals as part of the deal that saw him return to Glanford Park, the 25-year-old is hoping to return to the squad for Saturday's potential all-or-nothing clash at Crystal Palace.

And after only playing just over 270 minutes of Championship football all season, Williams is eager to be thrown into United's battle against the drop.

That fight was aided by a thrilling 4-1 drubbing of league leaders Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

But their 41st game of the campaign is arguably one of the toughest, against a Reading side who are the in-form team in the second tier at present.

Six victories on the spin, and unbeaten in 10, the Berkshire outfit have always eyed up automatic promotion, an area they are approaching at a rate of knots.

"They are doing well and are on a good roll," said Williams, who has made just eight appearances during the current campaign, despite being at three different clubs.

"Their team is very strong and not just the starting XI but on the bench as well.

"Their philosophy is to win games and get into the Premier League next season, that is their aim and the only way they look at it.

"They take one game at a time knowing they have got to get the three points.

"From the start of the season up until now, they always have meetings and the players are told the main aim is to get into the top two or if not then the play-offs, without a shadow of a doubt.

"They have got difficult teams left to play.

"They have got to come here and they know it is going to be as difficult as it was last season when they were here.

"That was a Tuesday night too so they know what to expect.

"They know they have got to come and do a job.

"Even though they are on a roll, they are not going to come here and expect a jolly up – they mean business."

A 4-3 triumph at the home of fellow promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest on Saturday would reinforce Williams' statement.

But he believes, at this stage, Scunthorpe must be picking up points on a regular basis if they are to repeat the class of 2010's achievements.

"We have got to take each game as it comes," continued the Doncaster-born defender.

"We have got to get something from every game.

"We know every team is going to be tough.

"But the boys need to make sure they do everything right in training and get something out of the 90 minutes when they play.

"I am on loan until the end of the season and Scunthorpe are trying to stay up in this division – I think I can have a massive part to play."

That is dependant largely on Iron boss Alan Knill's opinion of the attack-minded left-back.

Brought in by caretaker boss Tony Daws, Williams has had little chance to impress the new man in charge, except for fleeting appearances in training.

But the player is not concerned, hoping his affiliation with the club will stand him in good stead when it comes to selection for Saturday's clash at Selhurst Park, where, injury permitting, he is eager to get his season back on track.

"I wouldn't like to tag (my season) as a washout," he insisted.

"I have never been in this situation before.

"I have always said I have been fortunate to play a lot of games, especially for my age.

"This season I went to Reading looking to do the same, obviously it hasn't worked out for me as I would have liked it to.

"It is a learning curve for me and hopefully it makes me stronger for when I do get out on the pitch.

"I have watched people play in my position and you see things off the pitch that you couldn't on it.

"It is good experience for me and hopefully I can put those things into my game to improve my weaknesses.

"It is tough, mentally. I am far away from home as well so all of those things don't help.

"But you have to keep going and make sure you are doing things right so when your time comes, and when you get your chance, you take your opportunity.

"I have spoken to the manager already – he is happy and he likes what he sees."

As for who he will be cheering on tonight, that is a thorny issue treated with diplomacy by the Royals loanee.

"I'd like Reading to win because we are in the play-offs and have got a strong chance of getting into the Premier League," he concluded.

"That is where my loyalties lie at this moment.

"But at the same time I want Scunthorpe to win because I want them to survive."