Last season saw Reading narrowly avoid relegation in what was an intense scrap at the foot of the table but Jose Gomes will be confident of guiding them further from trouble this time around.

And he added his first recruit of the summer on Thurday night in the form of Everton shot-stopper Joao Virginia.

Virginia arrives as a replacement for Emi Martinez, who impressed during his loan stint from Arsenal at the Madejski last season.

It is the first time the 19-year-old has been sent out on loan after graduating through the Benfica youth system before moving to Arsenal and then finally to Goodison Park.

Although he is yet to break into the Everton first-team, he has regularly impressed in the under-23 ranks, playing a crucial role as they lifted the Premier League 2 title and Under-23 cup last season.

He has now flown out to Malaga in order to link-up with the rest of the Royals' squad for their pre-season training camp.

And the Reading fans were rather happy with the new addition...