It's Omar!

Last updated : 11 August 2003 By Rob Cooper
Alan Pardew has swooped to sign Omar Daley on a season long loan from Portmore United. However, the deal will fall through if a work permit is not granted.

The 22-year-old penned a deal at the Madejski Stadium today after training with the Royals this morning.

Alan Pardew will be confident that a work permit can be successfully sought as Daley is a regular Jamacian international. The application should be processed in the next seven to ten days.

Earlier in the summer Omar had a trial with Stoke City, however, the Potters chose not to follow up their interest in the midfielder. Charlton Athletic also had previously looked at signing the starlet, after a trial at the Valley last summer. Alan Curbishley failed to complete the deal as a request for a work permit was turned down.

The tough-tackling midfielder, who has been capped twenty-one times by his native Jamacia, is said to have a Roy Keane style quick temper. He is also said to be highly-skilled with a good scoring record to boot.

Reading already have an abundance of midfielders, the addition of another player is going to add to the competition for places. It is unlikely that Daley will feature straight away as James Harper and Steven Sidwell are established first team players.