Reading captain Paul McShane has insisted that his side can get their season back on track sooner rather than later.

The Royals have dropped from second in the table down to 12th in the space of two months courtesy of a run of five defeats and just one win from their last nine games, resulting in Steve Clarke being sacked earlier this month.

McShane acknowledged that the team were going through a difficult spell, but believes that they can still haul themselves back into playoff contention by the end of the campaign.

"We're having a bad time at the minute. But we've got to keep going and going and keep looking for that win," he told the club's official website.

"I'm still confident that we can turn it around and I'm still positive that we can have a right crack at it this season."

Reading will look to end a three-game losing streak when they face McShane's former club Hull City at the KC Stadium on Wednesday.