Matthew, welcome to Reading. How does it feel to put pen to paper?
I'm thoroughly delighted. It's been a long summer, but I'm just glad to be attached to a football club like this and I'm ready to get down to work.
How is this as a move for you? It seems like it fits the bill in many ways.
It's a perfect move for me. At the back end of last season, when the season finished, this was one of the clubs that I looked at and wanted to join, and I'm glad to be standing here as a Reading player.
How long has the interest been there?
You never know with these things, obviously with speculation you're linked to different clubs all the time really. When you manage to play good football, that attracts football clubs, but I'm just glad now that I'm stood here and it's not speculation anymore. I'm officially a Reading player and like I said, I can't wait to get started.
What do you think you'll bring to the club?
Hopefully I'm going to bring a lot of things. With the club kind of aiming for promotion this year, I obviously want to be a massive part of that. Defensively I want to be sound and try and get as many wins as we can to achieve promotion.
How would you describe yourself as a player?
I'm physical, I like a tackle and I enjoy heading the ball, but I also feel like I can play a bit and create things from the back, so hopefully I'll be given the chance soon enough and I'll be able to show what I'm about.
Obviously we've got a new manager here in Brendan Rodgers, how have you felt in dealing with him?
Brendan was a massive factor as well because of his pedigree and the way he likes to play football. I can't wait to get started with him because of the things that he spoke about, so it just ticks all the boxes and I'm buzzing to get started.
What do you think we can aim for this season?
I think you've got to aim as high as possible. I think everyone in the club's thinking along the same way - everyone's pulling together - and once the season gets started, anything can happen in football and I'm sure everybody here believes that promotion is possible. I certainly do, or I wouldn't have joined the club.
Straight into action on Saturday I assume. Are you fit and raring to go?
Yes, obviously there's a game Saturday so once I get into training, we'll see what the situation is and we'll go from there.
But obviously you'd like to start?
Of course. I'm a footballer; I love playing football, so if there's a game coming up then I want to be playing.
