Shane Long on his Reading FC role ahead of new season

Arriving last week after 11 years away, the experienced Republic of Ireland international played 30 minutes against West Ham in a pre-season friendly.

Spending the last eight years with Premier League Southampton, the 35-year-old has played just 24 league matches in the past two seasons.

Speaking to the media after the draw with the Hammers, the former Academy graduate emphasised that he is not here to make up the numbers.

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"He [Paul Ince] reassured me that I’m not here to be a back-up to Lucas [Joao]," he started. "That position is up for grabs, and you show me that you deserve to play, and you’ll play. That’s what I wanted to hear, and I think the manager is as straight as it comes. Aa player that’s all you want, to be given the chance when you think you feel like you deserve it."

A difficult ask, Angola international Joao has hit 38 goals in three seasons in Berkshire, including 10 last year in just 21 outings.

"Lucas is a good player," he stated. "I know what he brings to the team, and he scores a lot of goals, but I think it’s only a good thing for the squad having someone pushing him."

A decade on from his first stint, which saw him score more than half a century of goals in six years, Long feels he has added to his game and is a more rounded player.

READ MORE: Shane Long on how Reading FC return came about

"I’ve developed my game a lot," he explained. "I was very raw when I was playing here, running in behind and playing naturally, whereas now I think about the game a lot more. I know how to effect defenders and read the game.

"Probably my main asset for the team now is my experience and brining it into the dressing room. There’s a lot of young lads in that dressing room and easy for heads to drop when you lose and get over the top when you win so keeping on a level playing field and reassuring them that it’s not that easy."