Reading fans will be eagerly anticipating this weekend's fixture against Hull City when they could see new signing George Puscas in action.

The striker signed a five-year deal with the Madejski Stadium outfit on Wednesday, after the Royals agreed a reported £8million fee with Inter Milan for his services.

The 23-year-old was thought to be the subject of interest from other Championship clubs this summer with Birmingham City and Leeds United also keen on him, but he has chosen to sign a long-term deal with Jose Gomes' side.

Puscas arrives at Reading after a successful season in Serie B with Palermo last term which led to him re-joining Inter this summer, but the Italian side have now chosen to move the Romania international on to pastures new.

So, is Puscas the man to help Reading achieve a top six finish this term?

We take a closer look at the stats...

Puscas was a regular for Palermo last term as he missed just three matches over the course of the season. He was commonly used as both a starting striker and an option from the bench, which saw him rack up a total of 2828 minutes played. This would have been a great season for his development, and he will now be ready to frequently lead Reading's front line this term.

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These statistics include Puscas' matches with the Romania senior and Under-21 sides, which meant he bagged a total of 20 goals over the course of the season. His campaign culminated with a highly impressive display in the Under-21 European Championships, where he netted four times in Romania's four games. A prolific season such as this means Puscas will be well-equipped to handle the pressure that comes with leading the Royals' frontline, as he will be brimming with confidence on the back of a strong goalscoring season with Palermo followed by the Euros.

Puscas managed to register three assists last season, with this showing his ability to create goals as well as score them. He will surely be looking to create even more chances for his teammates this season, but his main priority will be ensuring he finishes his chances from the start. His passing accuracy of 75.9% suggests the 23-year-old can effectively link up with his teammates, and this will be important within Gomes' possession-based system.

He is also comfortable with the ball at his feet, which is not something you would expect for a man of his large frame. He managed to record 3.12 successful dribbles per game last term, largely due to his strength and power which would have enabled him to muscle off his opponents repeatedly. His tall figure would suggest that he is strong in the air and while this is indeed the case, he only managed to win 36.7% of his aerial duels last season. He can definitely be keen to improve on this number this season, particularly as he will be coming up against stiff opposition from Championship defences.

These statistics suggest Puscas could well be a revelation at the Madejski Stadium this term, with Royals fans desperately hoping he lives up to the excitement that has been generated by his arrival. Although he is not yet the finished product, he is certainly a player who knows where the back of the net is. This is precisely what Reading need from their centre-forward if they are to challenge for promotion this season.