READING boss Brian McDermott is backing Shane Long to shrug off indifferent club form and hit a scoring streak soon.
Long -- who has risen in prominence in Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland team -- has scored just four times this season and missed a couple of easy opportunities in a 0-0 draw with Coventry last weekend.
"I just say to him, do the right things. I keep faith with players who are putting themselves on the line for the club, and that's what he's doing," claimed McDermott.
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"He had his head in his hands in the dressing room afterwards because he feels he should have scored right at the end. He's hit the post, he's getting in the right areas and he's got to keep doing that.
"He's got to make sure nothing gets in his head. We'll give him as much support as we can, as we do with all the strikers, anybody in our team.
"What would affect him would be people getting onto him, but he doesn't get that in our dressing room and he doesn't get that from me.
"The crowd were good with him, they can see he's really having a go. He's still young, 23 years old, and he'll be taking the opportunities soon I am sure."