Kitson signs new Reading deal

Reading striker Dave Kitson has signed a new three-year contract, keeping him at the Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2010.

The 27-year-old, who scored Reading’s first Premiership goal in the opening day 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough, has struggled with injury this season.

He picked up a knee injury later in that game which ruled him out until January - but has recently scored in FA Cup games against Birmingham and Manchester United.

The Royals’ director of football Nick Hammond said: “This is an extremely important signing for us because we have no doubt Dave is fully capable of scoring goals at the highest level, which is a very valuable commodity and one that is difficult to find.

“We are confident Dave will show those qualities over the remainder of this campaign and going into next season.”

Kitson, whose previous deal was due to expire in the summer of 2008, joined Reading from Cambridge United for £350,000 in December 2003.

Meanwhile, manager Steve Coppell’s backroom staff are set to follow him in signing new two-year contracts at the Madejski Stadium within the next few weeks.

Coppell broke with his usual tradition of signing only one-year deals when he penned a new agreement yesterday.

Coppell has signed up with his team in a rare slump having lost three of their last four games and managing only a disappointing goalless home draw with Portsmouth last time out.

But coaches Kevin Dillon, Wally Downes and Nigel Gibbs, whose current deals are also up at the end of the season, look certain to commit to new long-term agreements.