Royals striker Shane Long says the team are going for all three points at Newcastle this weekend.

Following the opening day draw with Nottm Forest, Shane is keen to pick up a first victory in this Coca-Cola Championship campaign.

He said, "It's one of the biggest games of the season and a fixture every team will have looked out for. After drawing last week we'd like our first win now.

"It's a massive club and it'll be a hard game. But we have to put the big stadium and the big-club factor behind us and just concentrate on beating another Championship team.

"Whenever you play a team like Newcastle you are going to want to be at your best and the lads will be up for it."

St James's Park will pay tribute to the late Sir Bobby Robson this weekend, and Shane has personal memories of the former United boss, having worked with him during the knight's brief association with the Ireland team.

"He's a legend of the game. It's pity to see he's gone and I'm sure he'll get a good ovation up there. Every football player and anyone involved in football appreciates what Bobby has done for the game and it is a sad loss.

"He came away on one trip with us for Ireland and he wasn't the healthiest back then, but it was great to meet him."

Finally, Shane gave an insight into the red card shown to Forest defender James Chambers. "We'd been having a tussle all game and he met me with an elbow in my nose. I went down thinking 'oh I hope it's not broken again' but to be fair I got straight up, I didn't make a meal of it.

"The linesman saw it, usually you get them every two or three games but this time he dealt with it and that was the end of it."