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

Karlosfandangal added 15:53 - Jan 9 Jewell said that 3 keepers were too many at the start of season. Dont see the point of this, would have understood us buying a keeper on a 3 year contract. At the end of the season McCarthy goes back to Reading Richard Wright out of contract that just leaves us with Cody who is not ready and ALB who will be well miffed as Jewell does not rate him. Dont think ALB is the answer long term but has never let us down. But on the other hand he was going nowhere and Town gave him a contract in the range of £5-£10k a week

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Legend added 15:56 - Jan 9 Complete pointless signing! We have a a couple of goalkeeps which are already half decent, Its the ten men infront of him and the complete clown controling them that is the real problem! Bizzare signing and it shows real desperation by ITFC and Jewell. Sorry but Evans is a gutless clueless owner!! This man and Clegg would have been shown the door at any other club! Can you imagine the owners of Forest, Leeds, Leicester etc putting up with it? Nope! Forest and Leicester soon turfed their managers out and rightly so. This club needs to get tougher! Keane was right!

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brittaniaman added 16:15 - Jan 9 THERE IS NOTHING MORE TO SAY IT HAS ALL BEEN SAID !!!!!!!!!!!!EXEPT The time has come for Jewellio to pack his bags sooner rather than later ??????? THE DERBY ROAD IS LOOMING FAST !!!!! I would love to think that by Sat night I was wrong and we sit there with 33 pts.
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PauloJulio added 16:16 - Jan 9 Colin Doyle (Birmingham) might be available when his contract runs out in June 2012. Although at 26 yrs old he's a bit young for PJ!
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Mutiny added 16:34 - Jan 9 Jewell OUT - Warnock IN
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Jimmyonthewing added 16:54 - Jan 9 Mutiny you've hit the nail on the head. QPR must be mad, always thought Warnock was a complete kn*b - but wished he'd come and be our kn*b since he knows how to get the best out of his players. Come on ME the window is open - transfer Warnock IN and pajama man OUT
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sergeisays added 16:54 - Jan 9 Anybody else surprised by how quiet portman road and in particular jewell has been today? think we need warnock on board asap think he would put the fire back into the bellys of players and fans alike!
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haircut101 added 17:17 - Jan 9 If McArthy is put in instead of ALB on wednesday it will be a disgrace and another example of the shameful way some players have been treated -remember Colin Healy
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itfchorry added 17:21 - Jan 9 What we need is a new Manager and CEO Never felt so low about our beloved Club Clegg/Jewell- just do the decent thing and leave
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tractorboy1961 added 17:33 - Jan 9 PJ is off his chump totally now. Totally pointless signing when we already have keepers here. This is not the problem position at all. Feel for ALB who IMO has been good when called upon. Said in previous posts we had the England No 3 keeper and how many did he let in? This club is in total disarray and the owner, CEO and manager need to wake up and sort this out

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WarkyWonderLand added 18:19 - Jan 9 Got a feeling that there will be no permanent signings before Wednesday. If we lose then I think that tipping point will have been reached. De ja vu from 12 months ago. If he is still here come Saturday and given all of the frustration and unhappiness on here surely its a call for action at PR and show our real feelings.
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sergeisays added 18:29 - Jan 9 just heard a huge rumor from my dad who supplies the club through his business, that his regular contact from portman rd told him today that Evans was looking to sell the club!!
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Ipswichbusiness added 18:37 - Jan 9 At least Mr Warnock knows how to get clubs promoted and has done so very recently.
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righty added 18:43 - Jan 9 I hope your right sergeisays that would make my day he has been a disaster from day 1
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richnblue added 18:48 - Jan 9 Oh one day, one day we might build a team, a team for which we are proud of, a team that everybody will talk about in a positive way, and one that this Forum will admire for.... Playing the Ipswich way Being solid in all quarters scoring goals like the good old days But first a team of permanent signings needs to be made, none of this loaning business, players who want to pull a shirt on week in, week out and wear the horse with pride... So, Mr Jewell start a scratch, go sign Rhodes, develop him. Then go buy a few more and do the same again, and again and again and build a football team that we can all be proud off, that fills the stadium every other week, but more importantly plays football the Ipswich way......

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manualthetisfanclub added 19:32 - Jan 9 Decent keeper,but another pointless loan signing,absolutly pointless!!!!
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h32 added 19:44 - Jan 9 Yet another bobo by Jewell - absolutely POINTLESS signing. This man proves by the hour that he is the most CLUELESS Manager to have ever been on the pay role of this Club. And we all know that that accolade is not easily achieved !! - after a couple of others I can think of.
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smokester added 21:45 - Jan 9 This makes us look like chumps. Signing a 3-month loan deal with someone who's still blubbering over how delighted he is with his long-term commitment to Reading.
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bluearmy4life added 16:35 - Jan 10 Pathetic waste of time signing. Straight in the team which is bang out of order. ALB Hasn't done too bad, Ipswich born and bred and loves the town. If I was you ALB I would stick two fingers up to PJ and join a proper club. PI$$ OFF JEWELL GET OUT OF ARE CLUB. JEWELL OUT.
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