A long-established club appoints a first overseas boss, a former international who steps into a Championship hot seat after learning the ropes at a leading European power.

He brings in a trusted compatriot with the same footballing philosphy as his right-hand man and introduces an intense training regime.

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Unveiling a 4-2-3-1 system, he urges his side to keep possession and attack with pace and movement.

After some blips, the results start to come.

Sounds familiar?

Replace Huddersfield Town and David Wagner with Reading and Jaap Stam.

Even the ages, 44, are the same.

Former USA striker Wagner has had a bit of a start on ex-Holland centre-back Stam.

Maybe that’s why Town go into Saturday’s clash as league leaders while Reading are eighth.

Another intriguing 90 minutes await.

Town’s exciting start to the season has attracted national attention.

And there’s no doubt former Manchester United star Stam, who was at Ajax while Wagner was working for Borussia Dortmund, is making his mark in Berkshire.

A trip to the Madesjksi Stadium last November spelled the end of Chris Powell’s Town tenure.

Can his successor conjure the seventh win in nine which would be sure to keep his side at the summit?

Town are targeting a third win in five league games away from home, where they have won four out of four.

Reading have yet to lose on their own turf this term, have won four of their last five in all competitions and are unbeaten in seven.

Could a poor disciplinary record prove their undoing?

In 11 Championship and League Cup games this season, they have received 27 yellow cards and three reds.

Both striker Garath McCleary and defender Tyler Blackett miss out against Town through suspension.

No manager wants to be reduced to 10 men, but Stam must be delighted at the way his side responded to first-half reds for McCleary and Blackett and Barnsley last Saturday and Brighton and Hove Albion in the League Cup on Tuesday.

In each case 2-1 wins were recorded, showing both resilience and determination.