Dan is desperate to impress

Anthony Smith • Published 2 Feb 2009 16:05 0 Comments

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DAN Harding has vowed to put his Ipswich Town nightmare behind him and make a fresh start at Reading.

The 25-year-old found life unbearable at Portman Road under Town boss Jim Magilton.

And the final straw arrived the day he was left out of their glittering FA Cup tie at Chelsea recently- despite starting in a superb 4-1 victory at Crystal Palace in their previous league game.

Now Royals boss Steve Coppell has swooped to rescue Harding from East Anglia on loan until the end of the season.

Harding was not in the squad for the 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers last Saturday, though he did travel with his new team-mates.

And the ex-England Under 21 star, who can play anywhere down the left, declared: "I found out Reading were interested. I knew they had seen me play a few games so I was delighted when they came in for me.

"I played in our 4-1 win at Crystal Palace but I was left out completely when we played Chelsea in the FA Cup.

"I went from playing in a team that won 4-1 to not even being in the squad.

"It obviously showed he (Magilton) had a personal problem with me. It was nothing to do with football. Then he told me Reading had come in and that I could go. That was it as far as I was concerned.

"Obviously, I was disappointed when it became clear I wasn't part of the manager's plans so it was brilliant when a new challenge came about."

That 4-1 victory at Palace remains Harding's one and only league appearance for the Tractor Boys this season. Before that Magilton had farmed him out to Southend United on loan where he became a regular in their side.

But Royals believe they have signed someone with unfulfilled potential and no-one should know better than Coppell himself.

Coppell was manager at Brighton when he handed Harding his full league debut in 2003 and his displays for the Seagulls led to a £850,000 move to Leeds United.

"Dan will give us that extra element of competition and insurance going into what is a very critical stage of the season," stated Coppell. "He can do a good job for us anywhere on the left and he is a player that I know well."

Harding, though, realises he has a battle on his hands to break into Reading's first-team and it is unlikely he will be involved in Saturday's clash against Preston North End at the Madejski Stadium (3pm ko).

"I've come to a club that is doing really well," he explained. "The lads in the team deserve to be there. I can't complain if I don't play straight away so I just have to train hard and hope things progress from there.

"Steve Coppell knows me and what I can do. I was only a kid at Brighton when he was manager there. He did a fantastic job and I was in and around the first-team, though I didn't play many games.

"I've come here on loan and if I can prove myself I hope something can happen at the end of it. I can play anywhere down the left-hand side and if there is a hole that needs to be filled I can fill it.

"I want to help with whatever needs to be done. Hopefully along the way I can impress a few people and earn a permanent contract."

Meanwhile, back-in-favour striker Leroy Lita hopes he did enough in the stalemate at Loftus Road to keep his place in the side for the Preston game.

With Noel Hunt sidelined with an ankle injury, Lita made his first league start for Royals since a 4-2 defeat at Charlton way back in August.

And the ex-England Under 21 striker stated: "Noel was injured and wasn't 100% so the gaffer put me in.

"Hopefully I can stay in the team now and start again next weekend. Obviously I want to play but we will just have to see.

"The manager has to do whatever is best for the team and I'm behind him all the way."

Royals skipper Graeme Murty has extended his loan with Charlton Athletic by a month.

And young goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has joined Aldershot Town on a month's loan.

Royals expect to be involved in no other transfer business before today's (Monday) 5pm deadline, thus quashing rumours Stephen Hunt is set to leave for Wigan or Spurs for £5 million.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 02 Feb 09

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