Reading sign former Aston Villa goalkeeper ahead of Nottingham Forest clash

Reading have signed former Aston Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland ahead of this weekend's meeting with Nottingham Forest.

The 31-year-old had been a free agent since mutually terminating a contract with Bournemouth on transfer deadline day, though the Norway international continued to train with the club while recovering from a calf injury.

The Royals have announced that the 'keeper has signed a short-term deal until the end of the current campaign to provide competition for Luke Southwood following the injuries to Arsenal loanee Karl Hein and Iceland international Jokull Andresson in that position.

It is said that the transfer is "subject to the usual ratification by footballing authorities" before the club added that the player "could make his debut at the City Ground."

Nyland made three appearances on the south coast this season, keeping a clean sheet in the one Championship outing during a 0-0 draw with Hull City.

Last season was split between Villa and Norwich City, but just one senior appearance was made for the former in the Carabao Cup against Buton Albion.

Forest head coach Steve Cooper also has a goalkeeper conundrum to solve ahead of the fixture, with a decision to be made over whether Brice Samba now returns to the team after serving a suspension and being benched against Huddersfield Town for Ethan Horvath on Monday night.

“I see it as a really positive situation with both goalkeepers - I say both, but Jordan Smith plays a big part in the group as well, if you’re talking about someone who shouldn’t go under the radar,” Cooper said .

“I see it as a very competitive, hard-working goalkeeping department at the moment. Not that we separate them too much, because we involve them a lot in our work, with