Reading announce Shane Long's return with brilliant shopping centre unveiling

Shane Long has returned to Reading after 11 years away, signing a one-year deal with the Championship club.

The 35-year-old spent six years in Berkshire between 2005 and 2011 and has now returned after his contract with Southampton expired this summer.

But the manner of his unveiling was unique - with the Royals creating a quirky teaser by using CCTV images of the Oracle shopping centre. It stems from a long-running joke among the club's fans about supposedly seeing new signings in the popular mall - and now the club have got in on the act by unveiling the Ireland international at that exact location.

They finally revealed news of Long's re-signing by posting: "Shane Long. That's it. That's the tweet. #spottedinTheOracle."

Head of Football Operations, Mark Bowen, said: "When he first arrived at this club, very few fans will have known anything about Shane Long. But now, he needs absolutely no introduction to Royals supporters. A return to the club where it all began for Shane has been rumoured for a number of years, so I am delighted to have made that rumour a reality."

Manager Paul Ince, who made Long his sixth summer signing, said: "The arrival of Shane is something of a football fairytale for Reading fans. But make no mistake about it - he is coming into the dressing room purely on the merits of what he can offer this squad out on the pitch. Experience, energy, leadership, desire and a natural instinct you need to score goals. Shane will be an important addition to the group we are patiently trying to build and grow."

Reading finished just one place above the relegation zone last season in a campaign beset by off-field concerns. Last November they were docked six points for a breach of profit and sustainability regulations. In the end, they finished just four points clear of safety.

Ince came in as caretaker boss in February with the Royals in trouble. It was the former England international's first job in the dugout for eight years but he did enough to keep them in the second tier and was handed the job on a permanent basis this summer. He has begun rebuilding the squad with new arrivals including his son Tom and Newcastle midfielder Jeff Hendrick.

Hendrick arrives on a season-long loan and told Reading's website: "I'm feeling good and looking forward to getting going, thankfully there is a lot of games to get involved in before the season starts so I'm raring to go.

"The clubs have to agree to certain terms but for me it was a great opportunity to play football. I talked to Tom Ince who is a good friend of mine and I liked what he said about the club and the potential it has. I know the club well, it is a big club and for me that was an added bonus to me other than just playing football."