Drenthe, 27, struggled to make an impact last season and was not given a squad number by boss Nigel Adkins for the current Championship campaign.

However, the ex-Real Madrid, Feyenoord and Everton winger now has a chance to resurrect his career under Stuart Gray at Hillsborough.

Drenthe said: “I cannot wait to start because I need to be playing football. Everyone at Reading has been great with me, but I am a footballer who needs to be playing games.

“As soon as I was told of the interest from Sheffield Wednesday, my reaction was ‘get me there’ because it is such a great club.

“The chairman was really good to me and as soon as I spoke to the gaffer, I knew Sheffield Wednesday was the place I wanted to be.”

Drenthe arrived at Madejski Stadium in a blaze of glory from Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz a year ago. But the Dutch international failed to live up to his star billing, making only 17 starts and seven substitute appearances last season and scoring two goals against Brighton and Leeds United.

He will now attempt to resurrect his career with the Owls during a loan move until January that stipulates he cannot play against Reading when they go to Hillsborough on September 20.

Drenthe added: “I can throw all kinds of top names in football who I have played with but it doesn’t matter because that is in the past.

“Sheffield Wednesday fans want to see what Royston Drenthe can do now, not what he did for his previous clubs.

“I will play wherever the manager wants me to play because I am a team player.”

STRIKER Harry Cardwell, 17, scored twice for Scotland U19s in a 2-2 draw with Czech Republic on Tuesday.