Preston bring in Halls

Reading defender John Halls has joined Preston North End on a one-month loan deal.

Reading defender joins on one-month loan

Reading defender John Halls has joined Preston North End on a one-month loan deal. Halls arrives at Deepdale to provide additional depth at the back, with injuries and suspensions mounting up. The 25-year-old has struggled to break into Reading's first team since signing from Stoke in January 2006. Halls goes straight into Paul Simpson's squad for Saturday's Championship fixture against Barnsley at Oakwell. "I'm delighted that he has come in, he covers us for a centre-half or a right-back and that's got to help us," Simpson told the club's official website. "He's a good signing for the football club, still only young, still only 25. "He's had a frustrating time at Reading not getting a game but he is fully fit and he has been involved in their reserves." Simpson has hinted at a possible permanent stay for Halls if he impresses over the next four weeks. He said: "He's got to prove to us that it's something we may even consider further down the line to bring him in on a permanent deal."