ALI Al-Habsi has been named the Reading FC Player of the Season for the second year running.

The 35-year-old stopper beat centre-back Liam Moore and 16-goal striker Yann Kermorgant to the award which is voted for by fans.

He becomes the first Royals player to win back-to-back honours since former skipper Phil Parkinson did it in 1998 and 1999.

Al-Habsi has been outstanding between the sticks and he also makes a valuable contribution off the pitch throuigh his charity and community work.

A Reading FC spokesman said: "It has been another quite remarkable campaign for our Omani stopper.

"He faced stiff competition in particular from Liam Moore and Yann Kermorgant – a defender who has made an invaluable impact since arriving at the Madejski at the start of the campaign, a striker who may still have a 20-goal target set in his sights."

Al-Habsi also picked up the Player of the Season award last season, following in the footsteps of fellow stopper Adam Federici.

He now joins an exclusive group of former Royals to have won the award two years in succession after Steve Death, Robin Friday, Mick Gooding and Phil Parkinson.

Al-Habsi was also Wigan's Player of the Season in 2011.

Reading host the Latics today knowing a win or draw would send Wigan down and secure a play-off spot for the Royals.