SALAKO AND WATSON JOIN READING

The 32-year-old Salako and Watson go straight into The Royals' squad for their game against Northampton on Saturday as Reading bolster their ranks in a bid to rekindle their floundering promotion campaign.

Manager Alan Pardew was delighted to have got Salako, his former team-mate at Crystal Palace, saying: "I don't want to go overboard on him, I know what he can do and I feel it is a coup for us.

"Any First Division clubs would shake their heads in disbelief that they missed this one.

"As manager of this club I'm desperate to get it right, I haven't sat on my hands, I've acted and I have brought in two players who I feel can help us out.

"I've been after John for 14 months, I always felt he was the one player missing that could take us to another level," he told the Reading Evening Post.

"He can play in three positions, either as a striker, left midfield or left back, which he played in the Cup Final when he was just 21-years-old.

"Both he and Kevin will join for a month and then we'll see how it goes."

Meanwhile, Reading have confirmed the departure of assistant manager Martin Allen, who was dismissed by the club on Thursday.