Rasiak has scored six goals for Reading since joining from Watford

Reading striker Grzegorz Rasiak is looking to make the most of Shane Long's four-match suspension.

Long was dismissed against West Brom in the FA Cup for dangerous play and Rasiak is the most likely replacement.

He told BBC Berkshire: "Football's a difficult game sometimes - bad luck for your friend gives you an opportunity.

"I would like Shane to be playing, because he's been playing very well. But it's an opportunity to play and more importantly to keep winning."

Rasiak has scored six goals so far this season, but has recently been restricted to a substitute's role, with Long in a rich vein of form.

The Poland international says Reading have an important run of games coming up in the Championship.

"If you see the table, there's only about six points between us and 12th position and we have a game in hand.

"We have Crystal Palace and Blackpool away - not easy games, but definitely opportunities to get some wins.

"We've had a good run but it's not enough to get us higher in the table and out of the relegation zone.

Rasiak added although Palace are a quality side, he sees it as a winnable game.

"They could be close to the play-off positions. It's been difficult for them and they've lost one of their best players, Victor Moses, in the transfer window.

"So they're not as good as they were a few weeks ago, but they're at home so it'll be a difficult game for us, but one I believe we can win."

Crystal Palace versus Reading kicks off at 2000 GMT on Wednesday, 17 February and is live on BBC Berkshire.

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