Brian McDermott admits Reading's new Russian owner Anton Zingarevich was a big influence in landing Pavel Pogrebnyak.

McDermott hailed Zingarevich's input in the transfer.

He revealed: "Obviously, it was an advantage to me that Anton is Russian and could speak to him.

"But I wouldn't say we brought him in because he is Russian. He fits the bill. He fits the mould of what we want."