Assistant manager Nigel Gibbs is 'delighted' with Reading's January transfer window, while manager Brian McDermott has hailed their progress.

The Royals brought in Jason Roberts, Tomasz Cywka, Matthew Connolly and Karl Sheppard as well as agreeing new contracts with Jimmy Kebe, Alex McCarthy and Mikkel Andersen over the course of the last month.

And Gibbs feels the Berkshire side are now in a terrific position to push for promotion from the Championship.

He told the club's official website: "We've made additions to the squad and signed new contracts with players so we were delighted.

"The window has closed now and we can all get on with the most important thing, which is winning games.

"Jimmy signed and we've all see how important he is for us, that was massive. Jason Roberts made a massive impact in his first game, the crowd were lifted and the players were boosted as well."

Manager Brian McDermott is delighted with the way Reading have improved as the season has progressed.

After a slow start which saw the Royals win just one of their first six outings in the Championship, they have found their feet and now sit eighth in the table - two points off the play-off places.

And manager McDermott thinks his team are still in with a chance of an automatic promotion spot come the end of the term.

He told the Reading Chronicle: "Look at the squad, in the last 22 games we're top of the league. We took four points from the first 18 available but we're top of the league since then. We're going in the right direction, the boys are doing really well.

"We've won eight games from the last 11 and we beat a decent Bristol City side last time out which was important. Southampton and West Ham are coming back towards the pack, which is good for everyone involved and for where we want to get to.

"The table has condensed. We were 17 points behind Southampton at one stage, now it's six points which is a lot better."