Veljko Paunovic is under pressure from the Reading owners to secure promotion to the Premier League, according to Sky Sports' commentator Gary Weaver.

The Royals are certainly enjoying an excellent season so far and find themselves firmly in the race for promotion as they sit in fourth position in the table.

While this is deemed by many supporters as a good season for the club, it seems that expectations at the Madejski Stadium may be higher than we thought.

After receiving significant investment over the years Weaver believes that the club are targeting promotion to the Premier League - an objective that Paunovic will be judged on during his time at the club.

Speaking on the Sky Sports EFL Podcast, Weaver said: “I’ve loved watching Reading this season, I think there’s a great balance to them.

“If you speak to the players Paunovic was positive from day one.

“He was a big appointment after what had gone on at Reading. Marc Bowen steadied the ship last season so he deserves credit, but Paunovic coming in – I was told on day one that he blew the players away with his training session, his energy and the way he was trying to do things.

“He’s brought the club together because let’s remember that last season there wasn’t a good atmosphere there.

“This season it’s a leaner squad and he’s been positive and has got them going.

“There’s pressure on him. I was told by someone at the club earlier this season that the owners, spent £150million in the last three years, feel that that club should already be in the Premier League because of that level of investment.

“So there’s pressure on him to get to the Premier League this season.”

Can you name each of these 17 ex-Reading players just by looking at these 3 clues?

The Verdict

Reading are going great guns this season.

Veljko Paunovic's side look like the real deal and a club that have all of the tools to challenge for promotion this time around.

Of course there's plenty of competition to go up and that's why the challenge of returning to the Premier League is much more difficult that many realise.