Reading boss Ruben Selles believes the club managed to 'limit the damage' when assessing his side's transfer window activity.

Six players left, all of which had spent more than a decade rising through the ranks of the Academy, although defender Tom Holmes returns on loan for the season from Luton Town.

Only one signing was made, with 20-year-old Zane Monlouis arriving on loan from Arsenal on deadline day.

Quizzed on the club's trading ahead of tomorrow's trip to Oxford United, the Spaniard said: "When I was observing the whole situation, I think we managed to be in a situation of damage limitation. We didn’t want to lose the players that we had in the dressing room. Unfortunately, some of them left us but I think we managed to keep the spine of the team and the team that has been competing for more than three months together. We controlled the damage.

"I am happy that we kept the spine of the team but not happy that we didn’t manage to keep the squad together.

"I don’t think it can be a good window for Reading when you are under embargo and can’t sign anyone for a fee or even a small amount in wages and you are letting players out. I think the players we got out, apart from Nelson [Abbey], didn’t have too much playing time in the last few months. We cannot qualify that as a good transfer window because the situation we are in is not good."

Monlouis is eligible to make his debut at the Kassam Stadium for Saturday's eagerly awaited Thames Valley Derby.

Yet to make a professional appearance, Selles whetted supporters' appetite with what to expect from the defender.

"Zane is quite an experienced centre-back in the academy football," Selles said; " We played against him in the EFL Trophy, and he played as a left centre-back. He brings good presence within possession and is aggressive on the ball. He can cover big spaces and is a good compliment to the club that Arsenal facilitated the loan. We’ve added a quality young player to our squad that at some point we will need to compete."