Jason Roberts is eager to get straight into action for Reading after completing his move to the Madejski Stadium this week.

It was confirmed on Thursday that striker Roberts had joined the Royals from Blackburn, putting pen to paper on an 18-month contract.

The 34-year-old last played first-team football in mid-December but has declared himself "absolutely" fit and available for tomorrow's npower Championship home clash with Bristol City.

"You always want to play and be involved and I'm no different," Roberts told www.readingfc.co.uk.

"I'd like to play as soon as possible, get out there to show the Reading fans what I'm capable of and hopefully hit the back of the net a few times.

"But of course it's up to the manager."

Roberts, who arrives with Reading having won five of their last seven league games and just a point off the play-off places in eighth spot, added: "I think there aren't many more exciting places to be in English football right now.

"With the form of the team there's a real cause for optimism.

"Off the pitch everyone has seen the progression the club has made over the years and it's going to be really good to be part of it.

"It's a new chapter for me, the chance to come here and play with such a good team, a great manager, a good infrastructure and a club I know well in terms of playing against Reading a number of times. It's very, very exciting to me."

Former Derby midfielder Tomasz Cywka could also make his Reading bow against the Robins - who are currently 19th in the table - having been recruited on the same day as Roberts.

It has been a busy time of late for the Royals, with winger Jimmy Kebe signing a new deal days after it emerged chairman Sir John Madejski had entered an initial agreement with Russian led-company Thames Sports Investment about them acquiring a significant holding in the club, and manager Brian McDermott is glad attention will return to the pitch tomorrow.

"I'm looking forward to focusing on football matters really," McDermott said.

"There have been a lot of things going on which have been really important to the club - which I've obviously been involved in as well, but the most important thing is that we concentrate on the Bristol City game.

"We want to create a real big atmosphere. The most important thing now is that everything is out, it's very transparent - and now it's about the football.

"It's about trying to win the game and putting on a real performance."

Saturday's other Championship game sees 17th-placed Portsmouth - another club with plenty of off-field issues to contend with recently - travel to Peterborough, who are two points better off in 16th.