Tommy Elphick joins Reading on loan from Aston Villa
Monday 29 January 2018 20:07, UK
Tommy Elphick has joined Reading on loan from Aston Villa until the end of the season.
The defender has only made four league appearances for Steve Bruce's side this season and will aim for more regular first-team football at the Madejski Stadium.
Elphick, 30, eligible for selection for Tuesday's league meeting with Burton Albion, will add much-needed competition for places in Jaap Stam's squad, who are without a win from their past eight league fixtures.
"With the injuries we have at the back, we needed to bring in an extra defender and we were looking for someone who can add individual ability, quality and experience to the squad," Stam said.
"Tommy is a player who does just that; he can play in the style we want to play and the experience he brings to the squad is also going to be very important. We are very pleased to have him here."
Elphick joined Villa from Bournemouth in the summer of 2016 for a fee in the region of £3m and featured heavily in his first season at the club, but has fallen behind James Chester and John Terry in the pecking order during this campaign.
The 30-year-old was drafted into the side during the busy Christmas period as both Terry and Christopher Samba missed out with injuries, but captain Terry returned to action in January and Samba is expected back soon.
Tuanzebe, who has represented England once at U21 level, has made five senior appearances for United since signing professional terms in 2015.
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