Federici’s partner took to her now-deleted Twitter account after the 3-1 defeat to express her disappointment at McDermott’s decision, leading the Reading boss to calm talk of problems behind the scene.

“There’s nothing I can do about someone’s Twitter feed,” he said.

“I can’t help what players or their girlfriends put on Twitter – if that’s the case, then it’s a shame.

“The fact of the matter is that I spoke to Adam and made a decision that Alex McCarthy was going to play.

“No player at the club has a position that means they will play every week - no player.

“Adam Federici has done fantastic for me and I know him really well as a person and player.

“He works really hard, but things haven’t gone his way at the start of the season so Alex has come into the team. It’s no different for a full-back, centre-half or striker.

“If there is Twitter stuff going on and there are emotional messages then there is not a lot I can do about that.

“I’m not one of these managers that says you will get fined £1,000 for going on Twitter.”