Reading midfielder Tom Ince joked that he 'doesn't mind' running a bit harder if Lucas Joao carries on scoring.
Comments have been made surrounding the Angola international's level of pressing in recent matches, but the fan favourite struck twice against Stoke City to help win 2-1 on Sunday in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Ince, son of manager Paul, has come in for plenty of praise this season for his workrate and endless energy.
š "I do the running, he does the finishing, everyone's happy"
ā Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 4, 2022
Thomas Ince š¤ Lucas JoĆ£o pic.twitter.com/MGQmTC1q3s
Speaking to Sky Sports' David Craig while picking up his Man of the Match award against the Potters, the former Blackpool and Derby County winger said: "Iām always barking on at him in the game, āLucas this and Lucas thatā and he ignores me.Ā But itās okay, he can ignore me as long as he puts chances away like that.
"This man is a finisher at this level, heās proved it time and again. Weāve missed him when he was out injured but you see he comes back and thatās why I donāt mind. I do his running; he does the finishing- everyoneās happy."
Joao's brace took him to 41 goals for Reading, in under 85 appearances, and three for the 2022/23 campaign.
The former Sheffield Wednesday forward called it the 'perfect' way to celebrate his 29th birthday.
"We showed on the pitch how big a mentality we have," he said on bouncing back from the 4-0 defeat to Sheffield United in midweek. "After all the problems we've got and the defeats we have, we have bounced back and proved at home we are a strong team and we are going to continue like that."
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