Reading club captain Jem Karacan says he's playing for his Reading career as his contract expires this summer.

The Royals skipper has suffered horrible injury woes over the last few years, the latest being a cruciate ligament injury which he suffered back in September 2013, which he's only just returning from.

Karacan has only played 35 minutes this season but has already grabbed a goal in Reading's 4-1 defeat to Watford, where he scored a peach from the edge of the box after a Reading corner.

The 26-year-old has admitted he's playing for his Royals career but would not hesitate to sign a new deal at the club of offered a new contract.

He told Get Reading: “The club have been brilliant, don’t get me wrong.

“They’ve stood by me throughout the last 18 months. They never rushed me, they never said I need to do this, or I need to do that.

“They’ve got my back. Nick Hammond, the gaffer and Nigel Adkins, he really supported me during his time here.

“So hopefully I can do them justice and get a new contract.

“There is no better feeling than scoring. It makes you realise why you have been working so hard to get back.

“I know I’m not back to where I know I can be yet. I know I’m still on that ladder and it will take time, but it was a great moment.

“It was for the fans who stuck by me through thick and thin and it was for my family.”

Despite his injury Nigel Adkins (then manager of the club) handed Jem Karacan the captain's armband after Jobi McAnuff was released by the club, in a time where they were struggling financially.

Karacan's contract does have a clause to be extended by another year.

The Turkish midfielder has been with the club since the age of 14 in the Reading academy, but is no longer guaranteed a first-team spot, with a wealth of central midfielders like Danny Williams, Oliver Norwood and Hope Akpan.

Currently in 18th in the Championship with a game in hand, FA Cup semi-finalists Reading have amassed 44 points.