(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman captain Ali al Habsi who is all set to sign a deal with Reading on Tuesday has set his sights on helping the English Championship club return to the English Premier League.
Speaking to Muscat Daily on Sunday at the conclusion of the Royals' pre-season tour of Thailand a determined Habsi said 'I hope to be a part of the club's success in the coming season and hopefully I will play a role in helping Reading return to the Premier League.'
The Omani goalkeeper said he had a fruitful trip to Thailand. 'It has been a very nice trip everything went fine' he said. 'I am now looking forward to sign the deal which will be done on Tuesday after the medical [test].'
Looking forward to the new challenge the former Bolton Wanderers and Wigan player said 'It is going to be great as a Royal. It is a good club with good managers and good players.'
The 33 year old Habsi said his focus would now be on working hard under Reading manager Steve Clarke and goalkeeping coach Dave Beasant.
Reading competed in the 2012-13 Premier League season having gained promotion by winning the Championship the previous season. However the club was relegated after just a year in the top flight. Its form dipped further as it finished a lowly 19th among 24 teams in the Championship last season.
Habsi had agreed to be on trial with Reading at the start of the month and featured in a friendly against Thai All-Stars in Bangkok last week. The match ended in a 2-2 draw with Habsi being substituted at half-time with Jonathan Bond. The Omani keeper conceded a goal in first-half injury-time.
The experienced player has been a free agent since being released by Wigan earlier in the summer.
Earlier last week Clarke sounded positive about Reading's chemistry with Habsi. 'I think Ali is happy to be here and we're very happy to have him' the Reading manager had said.
Meanwhile the Thai consortium that owns Reading is confident of securing deals for 'three to four' players including Habsi before the start of the coming season. Shareholder Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth was quoted as saying that the deals would be completed within a fortnight.
Established in 1871 the club is one of the oldest teams in England but it did not join the Football League until 1920 and had never played in the top tier of English football's league circuit before the 2006-07 season.
Elm Park was Reading's home for 102 years from 1896-1998. The club then moved to the Madejski Stadium which is named after Reading's co-chairman Sir John Madejski.
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