Paul Green: Five-star Reading get a big shout in my Championship team of year

I HAVE been deep in thought in the past week after being asked to pick my Championship XI of the season.

I'm not allowed to select any of my team-mates at Derby County but five players from Reading have made my team.

There are two from Burnley but only one from leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers and second-placed Birmingham City.

I'm sure there will be people out there who disagree with my selection but I can only go on what I have seen and, more importantly, on who has impressed me when they've played against us this season.

So here goes ...

MAIK TAYLOR (goalkeeper)

There are a few decent keepers in the Championship. I thought about Wayne Hennessy at Wolves but I've gone for Maik Taylor.

He is an experienced keeper who has pulled off some vital saves that have kept Birmingham City up there and in with a shout of automatic promotion.

He has played in all 43 league games and was excellent when we lost 1-0 at St Andrews in January.

His performance that night was the main reason he gets the nod.

BRADLEY ORR (right-back)

He had a fantastic season for Bristol City last season when they reached the play-off final only to be beaten by Hull City.

I saw him a lot last year and he has kept his form going this season.

He is a consistent player and a key part of City's defence. He has made 39 appearances this season.

ANDRE BIKEY (centre-back)

A big, strong defender for Reading this season. He was outstanding when we lost 3-0 at the Madejski Stadium in November when we found it difficult to open Reading up.

You need that type of defender at the back.

He is an international with Cameroon.

STEVEN CALDWELL (centre-back)

He has played 51 games for Burnley in all competitions this season.

A really steady defender who is strong and can spray a few passes around.

Centre-back is one of the key partnerships in a team and I think Caldwell and Bikey would make a good pairing – a strong lad who can head it and a calm head who can, when needed, put his foot on the ball and play out from the back.

CHRIS ARMSTRONG (left-back)

He really impressed me when we played against Reading by the way he got up and down the pitch.

He gets crosses in and has a great delivery with his left foot. He centred for Kevin Doyle to head Reading's second goal in their 3-0 victory over us.

Armstrong has done well since replacing Nicky Shorey, who joined Aston Villa.

CHRIS EAGLES (right midfield)

A quality player, he gave us a torrid time when we played Burnley at Turf Moor.

He is tricky and his crosses are the type strikers thrive on, and team-mate Martin Paterson has done this season.

Eagles is a confident player but you are going to be if you've played for Manchester United.

He has a lot of good qualities and has shown them to help Burnley to a terrific season. Eagles can create and score – he has eight goals in the League.

KALIFA CISSE (central midfield)

Another player from Reading and a strong midfielder. He also has an eye for a goal, he's scored five in 23 league games.

He can be used as somebody who sits in as a holding midfielder but he can also get up and down the pitch.

DARREN PRATLEY (central midfield)

The Swansea player has great energy, he gets around the pitch and breaks things up. He is also capable of chipping in with a goal.

Swansea have had two good seasons back-to-back and Pratley has been a key player in Roberto Martinez's side.

STEPHEN HUNT (left midfield)

A few Premier League clubs are looking at the Reading player and you can see why.

The Republic of Ireland international is a quality player but he also works tremendously hard for the team. One minute he is delivering balls for the strikers, the next he is back helping out the defence.

KEVIN DOYLE (striker)

He has hit 18 league goals for Reading, including two hat-tricks.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake collected the Championship player of the year award but Doyle is the striker who has impressed me most this season.

His movement is top-class and he is always a threat. He did quite well in the Premier League last season and showed he can play at that level.

Clubs have shown an interest in him but he has signed a new contract at Reading and they have still got a really good chance of going up.

SYLVAN EBANKS-BLAKE (striker)

The top marksman in the Championship when it comes to goals.

Leaders Wolves are set to go up and his goals have been crucial. If you get a 20-goal man in your team and players around him scoring, you are going to do well.

He has scored 24 goals – he has to be in the side.