Billy Sharp joins Reading on loan

Reading have agreed a three-month loan deal for Southampton striker Billy Sharp.

The 27-year-old will now link up with Royals boss Nigel Adkins for a third time, having previously worked with him at Scunthorpe United and at St Mary's.

Sharp spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, for whom he scored 11 goals in 40 appearances.

He had earlier made a good start to life at Southampton, finding the net 10 times in his first 18 matches before falling out of favour following the arrival of new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Sharp's hopes of establishing himself as a regular member of Pochettino's first team were dealt a fresh blow during the summer, as Italy international forward Pablo Osvaldo arrived on the South Coast for a reported fee of £15m.