Legendary Reading manager Brian McDermott labelled former striker Adam Le Fondre the 'ultimate team player' at a recent question and answer session.

Held at the Purple Turtle on Sunday, McDermott- who famously took the club to the Premier League in 2012- made a surprise appearance at the event after signing Le Fondre in the summer of 2011.

Finishing as the club's top scorer in his three seasons with the club, including while in the Premier League, the 38-year-old is still playing in non-league for FC United of Manchester.

Still holding the record for the most Premier League goals as a substitute, 'Alfie' earned the tag of a 'super sub' while with the Royals.

Speaking to his former striker on the stage, McDermott was full of praise for the fan favourite.

"One of the biggest problems I had at Reading was when Shane Long left, Gylfi [Sigurdsson] had left, and we had some big people leave. I thought we were never going to be able to replace Shane Long, but we did, with Adam Le Fondre. Shane was like my son, and he was extra-ordinary.

"Before we signed him, I sat down and watched all his goals on YouTube and thought he was sensational and that we had to sign him. I thought he was going to West Ham, and I thought ‘he cannot go to West Ham, we have to sign him.’ He was a gamechanger.

"We’d play on a Tuesday, and he’d get us the winning goal, come the Thursday or Friday in my mind I was thinking ‘he’s going to have to win us this from the bench.’ Every time I didn’t start him, I’d go and talk to him.

"I do presentations on him- the ultimate team player. He isn’t a superstar, he’s a proper player. It’s not about being a superstar, it was the time and how it was supposed to be. I used to lie in bed on a Thursday and think ‘I have to tell him; I can’t not tell him.’ I found it really difficult not to start you because you were doing so well but I knew what the outcome was meant to be."

Former Reading midfielder Jem Karacan - who played for the club in their last season in the Premier League - will be at the Purple Turtle on Sunday afternoon for a Q&A with fans, who will have a chance to meet him and ask him questions about his time at Reading.

There are still tickets and some guest passes available for Sunday's event, which starts at 1pm. For ticket information, email markroachonline@yahoo.co.uk or send a WhatsApp message to 07842 627548.