Cox, 27, returns to the Madejski Stadium for a fee of around £600,000 after leaving the club in 2008 to join Swindon Town.

After impressing at the County Ground, he went on to enjoy spells at West Brom and Forest, before returning to the club that he joined at the age of nine.

The Tilehurst-born striker made 73 appearances for Forest over the past two years and scored 13 goals in the process, including a strike against the Royals last season.

Nigel Adkins was delighted to secure his man and is confident he'll prove to be an astute addition ahead of the Championship campaign getting underway at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

“He's a good age and he knows this football club,” beamed the Royals boss. “He's played in the Championship, Premier League and also at international level.

“He's got a vast amount of experience and he's hungry. I'm delighted.

“Simon's got a maturity about himself now and he's prepared to work very hard. When you highlight and watch his goals, he can finish.

“We've got to integrate him into the team and have him involved in areas where he can score goals as well as contribute assists.”

The Royals boss has been a long time admirer of the forward having watched him influence a game in Northampton's favour whilst he was in charge of Scunthorpe United.

“He played against me when I was at Scunthorpe and he was outstanding. We got beat that day and he was instrumental.

“He's one at a young age that caught my eye and I've kept an eye on him all the way through.”

The Royals have also been linked with Jamie Mackie and Anton Ferdinand and it is thought these deals could be concluded soon.