Former Fulham defender Stephen Kelly is delighted with his move to Reading.

After penning a two-and-a-half year deal on Friday it is expected that he will go straight into Brian McDermott's starting XI against Newcastle United on Saturday.

The Republic of Ireland international said: "I've spent most of my career in the Premier League - so I'll bring some experience and I'm still young enough and capable of getting up and down the pitch.

"I'll hopefully bring a different dimension to what we have at the moment and I'm looking forward to slotting in.

"There's not that much between ourselves and the teams that are in the safe positions.

"Staying in this league means you have to beat the teams around you and looking at the schedule we have to play most of the teams around us at home. I'm delighted to have signed and I'm looking forward to getting on the pitch.

"I've heard some great things about the club and the people around here are fantastic, so I'm looking forward to getting stuck in.

"The club seems to be going in the right direction and everybody has the right idea and are singing from the same hymn sheet. For myself the move was a no-brainer."