Published: Thursday, 21st January, 2010 1:00pm

McDermott hopes to make further signings

by Anthony Smith

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ROYALS caretaker boss Brian McDermott hopes to sign at least one more player in the next few weeks.

McDermott has bolstered his squad by landing striker Gunnar Thorvaldsson and right-back Andy Griffin on loan until the end of the season and both made their debuts in the 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest last weekend.

But any further additions are unlikely to arrive until after the January transfer window closes and more players will be available on loan.

"It's possible we could sign someone else but there's no rush for that because we can still sign loan players in February," McDermott told the Chronicle.

"And anything we do would be a loan and not a permanent deal. But we are looking to add to the squad and we have scouts out there all the time looking at players."

Royals have no money for McDermott to spend on transfer fees as the club continues to balance the books and cut its wage bill.

And while director of football Nick Hammond insists they do not have to sell players, they could be tempted to cash-in if the right offer comes in. A number of Reading's first-team have been linked with big-money moves recently including Adam Federici, Alex Pearce and Jobi McAnuff.

Goalkeeper Federici's supposed £2 million switch to Liverpool has been strongly denied, as has Sheffield United's interest in centre-back Pearce and Birmingham City's interest in winger McAnuff.

And the Chronicle understands there are several clubs looking at 20-year-old midfield ace Gylfi Sigurdsson who is having an excellent first season at Championship level with six league goals plus another two in cup competitions.

McDermott, though, insisted: "We have received a few telephone calls but at the moment we have had no offers for any of our players.

"Gylfi's a quality player. This is his first proper season and he's done very, very well.

"He's playing week-in week-out, he's scored and created goals and he's an important player for us.

"He's also a very good professional.

"He's low maintenance and he knows where he's going in his career and in his life.

"The best thing he can do now is to play as many games as he possibly can to build up his experience."

Meanwhile, Reading put their league struggles aside this Saturday when they host Burnley in the FA Cup fourth round at the Madejski Stadium following last week's stunning victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

"We're playing at home so it's important that we take the game to Burnley and don't sit back, a bit like we did against Liverpool," stated McDermott.

"We're hoping for a big crowd and we need the fans behind us, we're all looking forward to it."

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