STEVE Clarke has filled the goalkeeping void at Reading FC by signing the experienced Ali Al-Habsi on a two-year deal.

Royals missed out on Swindon Town’s highly-rated stopper Wes Foderingham when he joined Scottish giants Rangers at the start of the month.

That left Clarke with a major problem having seen last season’s first and second choice keepers leave the club over the summer after Adam Federici joined AFC Bournemouth and Mikkel Anderssen returned to his native Denmark.

However, Clarke has filled both positions in the past week after landing England Under 21 stopper Jonathan Bond from Watford for around £250,000 and then snapping up free agent Al-Habsi.

The former Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers star was part of the Royals squad which undertook a week-long pre-season tour of Thailand.

The 33-year-old played the first half in a 2-2 draw against a Thai All Stars XI and also impressed during training sessions.

And less than 48 hours after arriving back in the UK, Royals captured Al-Habsi on a permanent deal until summer 2017.

A delighted Clarke beamed: “Ali is exactly the type of experienced goalkeeper that we need at this time and I’m delighted that he has chosen to join us.

“Ali has good knowledge of the English game both in the Championship and the Premier League.

“He is a great shot stopper and has already impressed everyone with his abilities in the shooting sessions during training.

“Alongside Jonathan Bond and Stuart Moore, Ali brings the goalkeeping department to a very good level and the competition for places should ensure a really high standard.” Al-Habsi was born near Muscat and began his career with hometown club Al Midhaibi before making the step up with Al Nasr and winning the Sultan Qaboos Cup.

The 6’4” stopper was spotted by former goalkeeper John Burridge, who was working as a coach with the Oman national team and European football beckoned with Norwegian First Division side Lyn Oslo.

After three successful years in Norway, he signed for Bolton Wanderers in January 2006, playing Premier League and UEFA Cup football before making the permanent switch to Wigan Athletic in 2011 – after a successful loan season as the Latics’ number one and Player of the Year the previous campaign.

Now, with more than 100 Premier League appearances to his name and in excess of 100 international caps, the vastly experienced keeper will compete with Bond for the No.1 jersey.

Royals chief executive Nigel Howe added: “Having been out to Oman myself in recent years, I saw first hand how high a regard Ali is held in out there.

“With a wealth of experience at the very highest level back in England, I am certain he will be an extremely valuable addition to a squad which is now really starting to take shape.” STEVE Clarke has filled the goalkeeping void at Reading FC by signing the experienced Ali Al-Habsi on a two-year deal.

Royals missed out on Swindon Town’s highly-rated stopper Wes Foderingham when he joined Scottish giants Rangers at the start of the month.

That left Clarke with a major problem having seen last season’s first and second choice keepers leave the club over the summer after Adam Federici joined AFC Bournemouth and Mikkel Anderssen returned to his native Denmark.

However, Clarke has filled both positions in the past week after landing England Under 21 stopper Jonathan Bond from Watford for around £250,000 and then snapping up free agent Al-Habsi.

The former Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers star was part of the Royals squad which undertook a week-long pre-season tour of Thailand.

The 33-year-old played the first half in a 2-2 draw against a Thai All Stars XI and also impressed during training sessions.

And less than 48 hours after arriving back in the UK, Royals captured Al-Habsi on a permanent deal until summer 2017.

A delighted Clarke beamed: “Ali is exactly the type of experienced goalkeeper that we need at this time and I’m delighted that he has chosen to join us.

“Ali has good knowledge of the English game both in the Championship and the Premier League.

“He is a great shot stopper and has already impressed everyone with his abilities in the shooting sessions during training.

“Alongside Jonathan Bond and Stuart Moore, Ali brings the goalkeeping department to a very good level and the competition for places should ensure a really high standard.” Al-Habsi was born near Muscat and began his career with hometown club Al Midhaibi before making the step up with Al Nasr and winning the Sultan Qaboos Cup.

The 6’4” stopper was spotted by former goalkeeper John Burridge, who was working as a coach with the Oman national team and European football beckoned with Norwegian First Division side Lyn Oslo.

After three successful years in Norway, he signed for Bolton Wanderers in January 2006, playing Premier League and UEFA Cup football before making the permanent switch to Wigan Athletic in 2011 – after a successful loan season as the Latics’ number one and Player of the Year the previous campaign.

Now, with more than 100 Premier League appearances to his name and in excess of 100 international caps, the vastly experienced keeper will compete with Bond for the No.1 jersey.

Royals chief executive Nigel Howe added: “Having been out to Oman myself in recent years, I saw first hand how high a regard Ali is held in out there.

“With a wealth of experience at the very highest level back in England, I am certain he will be an extremely valuable addition to a squad which is now really starting to take shape.”