THE return to first team action of defender Ryan Nelsen was one of the plus points in Rovers' goalless draw with Reading on Saturday.

After missing the previous ten weeks with a troublesome hamstring injury, the Rovers captain returned to marshall the defence to a clean sheet at the Madejski Stadium, much to the delight of his manager.

"I was pleased with Ryan," said Hughes. "It was probably one of the main positives on the day.

"I thought he looked strong, he looked assured and looked like the Ryan Nelsen of old and speaking to him after the game he was really positive and felt that the injury was fine.

"He was blowing a bit towards the end as you'd expect because he'd been out for ten weeks but he was very much back and on the front foot so we are pleased with that."