ALEX Fernandez has promised fans that he’ll bring creativity to the Madejski Stadium after penning a season-long loan deal with Reading FC.

The 21-year-old came through the Real Madrid academy before joining Espanyol in 2013 on a free transfer.

He went on to make 31 appearances for the club before his services were no longer required, and Steve Clarke swooped to bring the midfielder to Reading this week.

A lack of creativity has harmed the Royals since Clarke arrived, but Fernandez believes he can help solve that problem – citing Steven Gerrard as his role model when growing up.

“I am a box-to-box midfielder and I can bring creativity,” he explained. “That’s one of my star points and it’s what I talked to the club about before I came here.

“I’d consider myself as an offensive midfielder and at the top of a midfield three. But I can play as a defensive midfielder or behind the striker, right or left is no problem for me.

“My favourite player is Steven Gerrard. I like Liverpool as I used to watch Gerrard and Xabi Alonso.”

He continued: “Gerrard and [Frank] Lampard are players that I try to model myself on, but it can be difficult as it’s a different game in England compared to Spain.

“In the last six months at HNK Rijeka in Croatia, I scored three goals and three assists so if I feel comfortable and confident on the pitch then I can score goals.

“Now I look forward to getting into the Reading team, but it’s the manager’s decision on whether I’m picked.”

Fernandez is a long-time admirer of English football and says a helpful word from a few global names helped him decide to opt for Reading.

“Me and my brother [Nacho Fernandez] spoke to Rafael Benitez, Alvaro Arbeloa and Luka Modric and they told me it would be the perfect experience here and they spoke highly of English football.

“There are big clubs with important histories in the Championship and I’m sure that I’ve joined one of them.

“I’m proud to be the first Spanish player in Reading’s history and I want the fans to have a high opinion of Spaniards by the end of the season as I want to be a great player for the club.

“Everyone that speaks about the club says it’s a family club so the environment here is great for me to develop.

"I think of myself as a Reading player now, not just on loan. I am trying to enjoy my football and the greatest thing for me would be to sign a three-year contract here when this loan is finished.”

The Spaniard was ruled out of last night’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday due to the late completion of the deal, but could be involved against MK Dons on Saturday.