Friday's strike hero John Barry Nusum can't wait for a chance to pair up with the fellow scorer of two goals against Nicaragua.

Nusum followed Shaun Goater's brace on Wednesday with one of his own against the temperamental Central Americans but was upset that he missed the chance to play with the legendary striker, who spent a frustrating Saturday warming the bench as Reading beat West Ham 2-0 without him.

Goater flew home on Thursday night after coming within a mis-kick of a hat-trick during the 3-0 victory over Nicaragua, ready for the crunch play-off clash with the Hammers at the Madejski Stadium.

But he was an unused substitute in the victory, which leaves Reading in seventh, and maybe could have stayed to link up with Nusum after all.

"It is a shame I missed the chance to play with him," said Nusum, now with the Toronto Lynx, following Friday night's 2-1 victory.

"Shaun is a great player and it would have been a fantastic experience for me to play alongside him. I am a little disappointed that I missed him by a day but I am already looking forward to the next game ? and hopefully we will get a chance to play together."

Following Goater's double strike in a magnificent performance leading the line in the first of last week's games, Nusum had big boots to fill when he was given the number nine jersey on Friday ? something that had not escaped him.

"People were saying that I was replacing Goater for this game," continued Nusum, whose performance was a mixture of delightful skill and raw power.

"I felt a little bit of pressure but I know I am not the same player as Shaun. I just wanted to play my game and hopefully I will get the chance to do so again with him alongside me."

Nusum's night, however, was nearly cut short after a clash of heads left him off the field for a worrying length of time in the first half. He left the field behind the Nicaraguan goal to receive treatment to his left eye and when he started moving around towards the dug-outs, many thought his night was over.

But the striker had different ideas.

"There was no way I was going off," he added.

"They said I needed stitches but I wanted to just get on with it. There was no way of going off just for that. But I had blood on my shirt so I had to go and change and put another one before I could come back.

"And I'm glad they let me stay on. It wasn't our greatest performance but it was a good win and it is always nice to score."