Lucas Joao takes a moment to reflect on what has been a difficult campaign.

He scored 19 goals as the club narrowly missed out on the play-offs. They have suffered a points deduction and are just above the bottom of the table.

He missed the bulk of the first half of the season with a hip injury, which may have made things different for the club.

He tells Sky Sports that it was frustrating because he felt his hands were tied.

The team was doing well up to a point, winning games and ranking in the top six. There was a bad period and then there was a points deduction.

If I had been fit, we would have been a bit higher up the table. I could have helped the team.

Joao has become more important to the side since he returned.

He scored on his first start back, although that came in a defeat to HUDD, but he also had five goals and an assist in six games in February, which earned him the Sky Bet Championship Player of the month award.

Joao says he was mentally and physically ready to have a better season.

We are fighting now that I'm fit. Football without pressure is not the same as football without pressure, and we are working hard to keep this team in the league.

I am thankful to the people who helped me get back to fitness. It is a huge credit to the medical department that I was able to come back and do what I did.

Without them, I wouldn't have gotten back to doing what I've been doing. We are into a big period of the season and I am able to help.

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Reading.

Reading had a strange season in 2020. They spent all but one of the first 40 gameweeks in the top six, but one win in their final 11 dropped them out of the play-offs.

Manager Veljko Paunovic lost his job last month after a dismal decline this season that was caused by off-field issues, a six-point deduction and injuries to key players.

Joao says that it was a good season despite it being a strange one.

Paul Ince was a surprise interim appointment, with it being his first managerial role in eight years, but his opening win was followed by three defeats and nine goals conceded.

Joao has enjoyed working with the former Manchester United player.

Joao says it has been a good experience because he is an interesting coach. He is a very funny person and it is good to have someone like him around the training ground.

There are four points between Reading and the bottom of the table.

Joao wants to keep them in the league so he can rebuild from there in the second tier.

Reading gave me the chance to play regular football and I want to repay them for that.

The fans deserved a season of celebration on the 150th anniversary of the club. They have not had the chance to enjoy it.

I am confident that we can stay up. Good things will come.