Reading manager Brian McDermott has claimed that Danny Guthrie failed to make the trip to Sunderland last night because his "head wasn't right".
The 25-year-old had been tipped to be included in the starting lineup for the encounter at the Stadium of Light.
However, McDermott has hinted that Guthrie's days as a Reading player could be numbered if he does not start pulling in the "same direction" as the rest of his teammates.
"Everyone has got to be going in the same direction, that's really, really important for me as a group and we have had that for a period of time," the manager told reporters.
"You have to put yourself up to be selected in each and every game, and that means every player. His words were his head wasn't right. He would have been travelling."
Guthrie joined the Royals in the summer from Newcastle United.
