ROYALS BOLSTER DEFENSIVE OPTIONS FOR REMAINING GAMES

READING FC have bolstered their defence for the remaining eight games of the season with the singing of Terell Thomas.

26-year-old centre back Thomas has signed a short term deal that sees him join the first-team squad for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.

The Royals face eight crucial matches in the Championship to try and secure their status in the league in what is the club’s 150th anniversary year.

Paul Ince’s men bolstered their chances of survival with a point away at AFC Bournemouth before they earned a crucial win at home to Blackburn Rovers prior to the international break to put them five points above the relegation zone.

They now head into what is arguably the biggest game of the season this Saturday away at relegation rivals Barnsley, with potential victory giving them a sizeable gap from the drop zone.

Thomas had been training with the Royals under 23’s team for a number of weeks and twice featured in matches for them whilst on trial, with his impressive performances winning him a contract with the first-team.

Thomas started his youth career at Arsenal before joining Charlton Athletic.

The 6ft 3in defender has also featured for Wigan Athletic and made close to 100 appearances for MK Dons before he spent the first half of the current campaign with Crewe Alexandra in League One.

Chief executive Dayong Pang said, “We have eight games remaining this season and we want to give ourselves the very best chance of winning our fight for second tier survival in the last six weeks of the campaign.

“Terell has been training well with our first team and has been professional and patient in his attitude and application on the training pitch and adding him to our first team group will bring competition for places at the back, helping to push our players to be at their very best in search of the points we need to stay up.”