Shane Long opens up on returning to Reading FC, his chat with Paul Ince and battling Lucas Joao

New Reading FC striker Shane Long admits he is 'quietly confident' the team can have a good year this coming season.

The Irishman completed his return to the club last week, 17 years after making his debut and 11 years after leaving. The 35-year-old has spent the past decade or so in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion, Hull City and Southampton before he left St Mary's at the end of last season.

His return to Berkshire has sparked huge excitement among Royals supporters, who are relishing seeing him don the blue and white hoops once again this season. Long is one of six new arrivals at the Select Car Leasing Stadium so far this summer, along with Joe Lumley, Tom Ince, Dean Bouzanis, Tyrese Fornah and Jeff Hendrick.

After last season's 21st place finish in the Championship and with the transfer embargo hanging over the club, many on the outside are expecting Paul Ince's side to struggle once again in 2022/23. But Long sees things differently and reckons Reading could be a surprise package in the coming months.

"I'm not too sure it's a different club [from when I was last here]," he said. "Obviously the new training ground is unbelievable. That has come on leaps and bounds and you can see the progress that has been made. The feel of the stadium and of the fans - it's nice to relive those memories. But I'm just excited to be back. I'm buzzing to get started and to get going. I know it's going to be a hard season, like the Championship always is, but I am quietly confident that we've got a good side and could surprise a lot of people this season."

He added: "There's a lot of pressure - we're probably one of the favourites to be towards the bottom of the league this year...but we love being underdogs. The club