Royals striker Kevin Doyle has been named the Football Association Of Ireland's official Player Of The Year.

Doyle started all eight internationals for his country during 2008, and is fully established under Giovanni Trapattoni.

Trapattoni was at Madejski Stadium on Saturday to see Doyle in action against Preston, and then joined our striker at an awards ceremony in a Dublin hotel on Sunday night.

Doyle has now won awards at three consecutive FAI ceremonies, picking up best young player in 2006, then rewarded for his country's best goal the following year.

Kevin has a total of 22 caps for his country, scoring six goals. He, Shane Long and the Hunt brothers are all preparing for a World Cup qualifier against Georgia at Dublin's Croke Park this Wednesday evening.

Doyle is the Championship's second-highest goalscorer with 17 to his name so far this season.

Since moving to Madejski Stadium from Cork City in the summer of 2005, Kevin has scored 55 goals in 136(+15) apperances in a Reading shirt.

Doyle came off in Saturday's draw with Preston after a heavy collision with goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, but should be fine for Ireland's midweek game.