Saints land Royal on loan

Reading forward Nicholas Bignall has joined Southampton on a month-long loan deal.

The 20-year-old, a product of the Royals' Academy, is a promising prospect and has already enjoyed loan spells at Northampton, Stockport and Cheltenham over the past two seasons.

Bignall grabbed a brace on his debut for Reading in the Carling Cup at the start of last season, before going on to make his Championship bow as a substitute in January's 1-0 win over Barnsley.

He arrives at St Mary's to boost a bare Saints forward line, with Rickie Lambert the League One club's only available senior striker.

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