Crewe Alexandra have been allowed to sign Reading's teenage striker Simon Church on an initial one-month emergency loan deal, as Nicky Maynard continues his recovery from the broken leg he suffered in August.

The 19-year-old told Alex's official website: "I'm definitely pleased to be here. It's a nice club with a good history so I'm just looking forward to the challenge now.

"It's all happened so fast really. I went into training the day after playing for Wales and found out I was going to be coming here. I'm really excited actually and really looking forward to it.

"I've been working all my life for a first-team place, so hopefully I can take my chance and push on from there."