Ruben Selles has given the lowdown on Reading FC’s latest additions.
Earlier this week, the Royals confirmed the signing of former Chelsea midfielder Ben Elliott on a three-year deal, with winger Paul Mukairu completing a season-long loan move from FC Copenhagen.
The new arrivals were given run-outs in the latter stages of Reading’s 2-0 victory over Stevenage on Saturday afternoon, after which their manager shared his thoughts on the qualities both players can bring to his side.
Selles said: “We are happy to have them with us. Today was still a bit early for them because they don’t understand the full picture obviously, because we didn’t have enough time for that.
“The way we play demands a lot of things from the players – one player out of the shape makes us out of shape. They will grow with that, we are happy with [their] addition, we know they are great boys and are players that can work really hard for us, and hopefully they will have a great season with us.”
Mukairu made 10 appearances for Copenhagen last term, including three substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
The 23-year-old impressed in his short cameo at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, and could have got on the scoresheet had he connected more cleanly with a well-placed Femi Azeez cross.
“Paul worked together with me in Copenhagen,” Selles explained. “So I know exactly what kind of game he can bring. He’s a player that can play in big spaces.
“He can accelerate with and without the ball, make the penetrations, and when [we] lose the ball, his counter pressure is really good.
“His pressure in the last step is really good, I think you saw a couple of examples, he needs to be clinical with his finishing – he’ll get there.”
The Royals boss admitted to being heavily involved in the recruitment of Elliott, who looked comfortable in possession in the middle of the park on debut.
“Ben, we’ve been scouting him the last couple of months – myself, the club had him on their list – we went to watch him live a couple of times, Selles said.
“He’s a player that can play as a six, can play as a 10. He’s very good in possession, very good at reading what we call the “red zone”, the spaces between the lines – it’s not usual for a player to have this [level of] vision of the game, of the opponent.”
Mukairu and Elliott become Ruben Selles’ ninth and tenth incomings of the summer transfer window.
