Brian McDermott: Nicky Shorey deal a "no brainer"

Reading manager Brian McDermott has described his decision to re-sign Nicky Shorey as a "no brainer".

Shorey signed a one-year deal with the Royals yesterday, having previously played for them between 2001 and 2008.

McDermott believes that the quality and experience that Shorey will bring to the side, coupled with the fact that he was available on a free transfer, made his decision easy.

"I know him really well and have done over many, many years," McDermott told the club's official website.

"It's a deal I've been thinking about trying to do for a long time. He played for us in the Premier League, got us up from the Championship and also played 26 games in the Premier League last year.

"He's a free transfer, so I looked at the value involved in the deal and what he could bring to us - in the end it was an absolute no-brainer to do it. It gives competition in that position, which is what we felt we needed."

Shorey, who has two England caps to his name, made 296 appearances for Reading in his first spell, and was voted the club's greatest ever left-back.