Town have confirmed that Reading keeper Alex McCarthy is joining on a three-month loan. The 22-year-old, who has also signed a new deal at the Madejski Stadium, is joining up with the squad this morning while the paperwork is finalised and is expected to make his debut at Birmingham on Wednesday, wearing the number 32 shirt.

While joining the Blues for the short-term, McCarthy has also reaffirmed his longer term commitment to Reading, putting pen to paper on a contract until 2015, something he says he was delighted to do: "This is excellent for me, it's a nice secure feeling to know that you have years behind you and I'm really looking forward to the future.

"I had a good spell in the team last season and this is a great club to be at, great lads, great staff, a great manager. I've got great respect for [manager] Brian [McDermott] - he's done wonders for me.

"Leeds are a rival club in terms of going up this season, and he didn't have to do let me go on loan there, but he knew I wanted to go out and play and he had my best interests at heart. So I have to thank him for letting me do that.

"Everyone always comments about the goalkeepers here [at Reading] because we've got such a great group. All of us want to be playing of course, and being a goalkeeper that's not possible - and that's why I've taken more time out to go on loan. But eventually I do want to be playing my football here."

Guildford-born 6ft 4in-tall England U21 cap McCarthy came through the Royals’ youth system and has had prior loan spells at Woking, Cambridge United, Team Bath, Aldershot Town, Yeovil Town and Brentford, in addition to a six-game spell at Leeds in November and December last year.

McCarthy’s spell runs until April 11th, while Reading will have a 24-hour emergency recall option after the first month, as is usual with short-term loans.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

walberswick added 10:09 - Jan 9 COYB
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SWGF added 10:15 - Jan 9 One thing we can ascertain from this - Richard Wright must be absolute dogsh|t!
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KenDubZ added 10:15 - Jan 9 Another load of bullocks, whats up with Barret he's stoped us from humiliation lately!! It's the out field players not the keeper didn't we just learn our lesson with Stockdale, besides he's just anoyhe barret from a diffrent club he's another keep who plays the second best role! Pointless we have just got money back from ingamarsons wage and now we waste is :L wow I hate transfer window when its wasted ... Right back centerback, and a big center defensive player like liam trotter!! And Clegg your fault we lost Rhodes dip in your pocket and get him back!!

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loobz66 added 10:17 - Jan 9 Still don't understand why if he's such a great kepper, why is he going on loan :S And town need a good keeper on a permanant basis, still looking forward to my trip up to Birmingham. COYB!
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Chris_ITFC added 10:21 - Jan 9 I think Saturday might've been different with Stockdale. Can't see this guy being the long term answer PJ's after though: http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/readingfc/articles/2011/12/15/55846-mcde
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northstand78 added 10:24 - Jan 9 Correct me if I'm wrong, but i would have thought that a keeper on a 3 month loan is not the most pressing of signings.. A couple of centre halfs would seem slightly more important. Didn't PJ say he'd made a few mistakes, well here's another..and he's far too young.
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footyblue added 10:24 - Jan 9 Well my flabber has been well and truly ghasted by this pointless we need Defenders to stop them first ALB has been superb considering what's in front of him
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Blue_Dwarf added 10:24 - Jan 9 Although probably a decent signing the manner and method of the signing is RIDICULOUS. Arran Lee-Barrett stoppped us losing to Derby, he's on a permanant contract. This is a 3 month contract with a 24hr call back from his parent club.... ITFC is ROTTEN.... PJ, SC & ME need to wake up to the fans and do something about BUILDING this club rather than destroying it
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osborne1nil added 10:25 - Jan 9 Oh dear. Hope he is good at laying bricks as he better build a wall fast as thats the only decent defense he will have (Cresswell aside)! Waste of time without a decent RB and 2 new CBs.
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tractorboybig added 10:26 - Jan 9 pointless, waste of time and shows the direction this set up is going. We are fast becoming the JOKE of the east.
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jas0999 added 10:27 - Jan 9 Good luck to him - but this is completely pointless. PJ OUT. How on earth can we trust what this guy says and does - only Friday he said he had relied on loans too much and had learnt from that. Clearly not. Pathetic.
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BROTHERBLUE1974 added 10:27 - Jan 9 And what is wrong with the two keepers we already have. I don't think the keeper is hardly the problem. Like every one else has said sort the defence out. Right back, central defender. Not gonna piss the other two keepers off much is it. What is this clown doing?????????
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bluelady added 10:28 - Jan 9 good short term move as no decent goalkeeper is going to sign a permanent deal at the moment and ALB has a habit of playing well for a while then dropping off, also was def at fault for one of the goals sat. lets get some decent CBs in a RB (stick Edwards on the wing banging in crosses) and a holding midfielder they are all priority. then when we have scrapped back to our usual mid table medriocracy lets sign a decent long term GK in the Summer, Scott Loach anyone?

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walberswick added 10:37 - Jan 9 Good post BL.
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Frase1987 added 10:38 - Jan 9 24 hour recall AGAIN??? JEWELL OUT
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chrice added 10:43 - Jan 9 Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Albert Einstein
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muhrensleftfoot added 10:45 - Jan 9 If there was any doubt, ALB and RW will now know what Jewell thinks of them. Let's get a 3 month loan in, and totally disenhearten our full time keepers. ALB is no world beater, but has done little wrong since he came in & indeed has pulled off some great saves in the last couple of home games. I don't like this loan system, unless there's a real prospect of them signing full time

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JayITFC added 10:45 - Jan 9 Waste of time. Come April we're back to square one!
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JayITFC added 10:45 - Jan 9 Waste of time. Come April we're back to square one!
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flyingdutchman added 10:50 - Jan 9 wont take long to break his confidence ,thursday morning he b shot to bits jewells clown army
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cornishnick added 10:50 - Jan 9 If this was with view to being a permanent signing I could understand, but it isn't. Bizarre really and will do little for team morale
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ipswichtillidie added 10:51 - Jan 9 The guy has just signed a new contract with Reading till 2015!!! Complete waste of time this for me when the 2 guys in place are more than able...
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PauloJulio added 10:52 - Jan 9 Not convinced we need another keeper, however, hopefully he is the first of many signings this month..but i doubt it. We desperately need a decent right back and at least one new centre half..at least!
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Brazils_Hair added 11:08 - Jan 9 You can see it now, Thursday morning - there will be press conference. Jewell will be out. Alex McCarthy will never get a game. Its all a big shame.
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algarvefan added 11:09 - Jan 9 What the hell does this say to our existing keepers, two of whom are OK, it say's you're crap and this lad is going straight into the first team, great morale booster PJ for ALB and Wrighty!!! As has been said it's the outfield players letting us down, another poor loan for a stupid period by a stupid manager and Ch Exec. I'd rather have Warnock in charge and I can't believe I've just said that!!!!!!! What the hell is going on at Portman Road????????

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