Reading manager Brendan Rogers tried unsuccessfully to sign Darren O'Dea last season when he was Watford's boss but he's managed to persuade the Irish defender to join him at the Madejski Stadium for the next six months. O'Dea will be happy to spend time in the Championship for one reason - he hopes it will help him establish himself at the club he wants to play for.
"I'm just pleased we've been able to sort this loan deal out because I'm going to need regular top-team games if I'm going to be ready to take my chance when it comes at Celtic." he told the Daily Record. "I like to think I've done well when I have been called upon to play. It becomes frustrating when you are in and out of the team but this is the time for me to prove myself. Since I was 18 I've kept hearing one word, over and over again - experience. I can't sit around hearing that any more or being told how much I need to build it up."
"So it's time for me to go on loan, get as many games and as much experience as possible and then return to Celtic to see if I'm going to make it or not." said O'Dea. "When I get back I don't want to hear the word experience again. Fine, if someone says I'm not good enough then I can accept that and move on. But this time it's going to be a question of ability - not experience."
"The most pleasing thing for me is I have been given the backing of the club." said the defender. "They have made it clear they see me playing a big part in the future of the team - that's all I wanted to hear. But the key word there is future. I can't sit around waiting on my chance to come- I need to play games, that's why this loan deal suits me."
"I know where I stand with the boss." he added. "To be honest, even though I'm moving away for a while, he's been brilliant with me. He told me he wants me back and that he sees me being a big player for Celtic for many years to come . That's why this is not the start of the end for me at Celtic, this is the making of me. This is the start of the process which will see me as a first-team regular."
"I'm delighted to be given this opportunity." said the big Dubliner. "God knows I've trained hard enough over the years. This feels like I am finally ready to get in at the sharp end. No-one can say the standard in the Championship isn't high enough to prepare me for being a Celtic player. The club were happy to buy Glenn Loovens from this league so if it was good enough for him it should be good enough for me. Reading are a good club and I'm looking forward to helping them get involved in the promotion race. The manager here tried to sign me for Watford last season so he's been after me for a while and that was a big part of my decision."