Boss Jim Magilton has confirmed that Reading right-back John Halls is amongst his loan targets. The 24-year-old was watched by Magilton in the Royals' 4-3 Carling Cup defeat at Liverpool.

The Town manager said: "John is a player we have been tracking for a long time and would be interested in taking on loan."

Reading boss Steve Coppell is unlikely to allow the former Arsenal trainee to leave the Madejski Stadium at present as first choice right-back Graeme Murty has been suffering with a hamstring injury.

However, with a number of other options available, Halls will probably be allowed to move on once Murty's problem has cleared up, ultimately on a permanent basis.

Halls made only three League Cup substitute appearances while with the Gunners, but had spells on loan with Colchester, Belgian side Beveren and Stoke, eventually joining the Potters on a permanent basis in 2003. While with the Staffordshire side the 6ft tall Londoner was red-carded in the 3-2 defeat of the Blues at the Britannia Stadium in September 2004.

With his Stoke contract running down and with a number of other Championship sides interested, including George Burley's Southampton, Halls joined Reading for £250,000 in January. However, he has failed to make an impression in Berkshire, starting only once in the league and twice in each cup competition.

Meanwhile, Town trialist George O'Callaghan is in hospital with viral meningitis and shingles. The 27-year-old Irish midfielder was taken to Ipswich Hospital last weekend before being moved to London where he has family.

The Cork City player has been with the Blues since September after falling out with the Eircom League side. Boss Jim Magilton has previously indicated that O'Callaghan could sign on loan until the end of the season when the transfer window opens in January.

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