DAN Harding has joined Championship high-flyers Reading on loan until the end of the season.

Derek Davis

DAN Harding has joined Championship high-flyers Reading on loan until the end of the season.

The Ipswich Town defender spent the first half of the season on loan at Southend and played in the Blues' 4-1 win at Crystal Palace on his return.

But it was a one-off for Harding who has now been snapped up by his old Brighton manager Steve Coppell as they look to secure an automatic promotion place.

He said: “At a time when the window is coming to a close, Dan will give us that extra element of competition and insurance going into a critical stage of the season.

“He can do a good job for us anywhere on the left hand side of the pitch and is a player I know well.”

The 25-year-old has already played alongside Reading duo Adam Federici and Hal Robson-Kanu during his loan spell at Roots Hall.