The 32-year-old made a surprise return to the side at Rotherham at the start of September and has been able to retain his place in the starting line-up ever since, somewhat to his surprise.
The former Millwall player admitted to readingfc.co.uk: "I'm quite surprised, since I've been back I've done OK, but I feel I've got a lot more to offer, I'm still finding my feet.
"The knee is fine. The match fitness is not quite 100% there but it will come. In the last ten minutes on Saturday I tired a bit more but we worked hard in the second half, a couple more games and it'll be completely there."
Signed from Millwall in the summer of 2000 on a free transfer Ricky Newman established himself as a regular on Alan Pardew's team sheet during his first season at the club.
However, a cruciate ligament injury sustained towards the end of the campaign kept the versatile defender come midfielder out of action for the whole of last season. Only recently has he been able to make his return to action.