Matthew Connolly, who has joined Reading on loan

HATFIELD’S footballing star, Matthew Connolly has joined Reading on loan.

The Queens Park Rangers centre back, who owns tattoo parlour C16 on Comet Way and still lives in the town where he was born and raised, moved to the Royals this morning (Tuesday) as part of the transfer deadline day action.

Matt left his boyhood club Arsenal, where he was the reserves captain, to join the West London outfit in 2008.

He achieved promotion from The Championship with the hoops at the end of last season and has made six appearances in the Premier League, where the team currently sit 16th.

However new manager Mark Hughes, who replaced Neil Warnock earlier this month, has off loaded the 24-year-old to Reading, where he will play the remainder of the season, as they also battle to rise from The Championship.

Royals manager Brian McDermott said about his new number 3.

“He can play anywhere in the back four and we think this is a really good signing.

“He’s played a number of games in the Premier League this year and played more than 30 times with Kaspars last year. “I remember him as a youngster at Arsenal, Bournemouth, he’s been a utility player and he’s just the job at 24.”

He has a very minor injury at the moment which will be monitored ahead of Reading’s next game, against Doncaster.