JAAP Stam has defended Joey van den Berg’s worrying disciplinary record.

The 30-year-old midfielder had a reputation as a hard man in Holland before joining Reading on a two-year deal on Tuesday.

Van den Berg, who can also play in defence, picked up a staggering 32 yellow cards and seven reds during the last four seasons in his home country.

But Royals boss Stam insists van den Berg, who played for him at FC Zwolle, is not a dirty player.

The ex-Manchester United and Netherlands defender said: “You have some players in England like that as well. You need this type of players.

“The thing is the style of play in England is totally different to Holland, it’s much more physical and you can do a lot more.

“Joey is not a dirty player who likes to kick opponents or wants to break legs. He just likes to get stuck in and sometimes that comes with a yellow or red card.

“But that’s my question to some Dutch referees. For some reason if Joey makes a foul it is always worse than if someone else does it because they know he has a certain temperament and plays in a certain way.

“There is always a lot more attention around him than other players. Look, sometimes you deserve a yellow or red, we’ve all done that.

“But I can vouch for him because not all the red cards he got he deserved.”

Van den Berg, who says he had become 'sick' of Dutch football, was booked eight times for Heerenveen last season and sent off twice.

The previous season he picked up 11 yellows and one red and the season before that six yellows and one red.

Perhaps his worst season came in the 2012/13 campaign when he was sent off three times and booked seven times while playing for FC Zwolle – when 
Stam was their new assistant manager.

However, Stam insists that record does not tell the full story and that van den Berg will being some vital qualities to Reading.

“He’s the type of player who wants to win, even during training sessions,” declared Stam.

“He encourages others to do well and if they don’t he tells them they need to step up.

“He’s a leader, he’s over here now and he needs to adjust to the style of play in England.

“It doesn’t mean he will definitely play in the first 11 because he has to prove himself as we have a lot of quality midfielders in the squad.

“But we need rivalry in the squad. We will play a lot of games this season and you never know what will happen with suspensions and injuries.”