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Zurab Khizanishvili is unveiled at Reading FC

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Reading FC sign Blackburn's Zurab Khizanishvili on loan

By Matthew Sadler
January 25, 2010

Georgia international defender Zurab Khizanishvili has joined Reading on loan until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old has fallen out of favour at Premier League side Blackburn Rovers and spent the first three months of this campaign on loan at Championship leaders Newcastle United, making seven appearances.

Khizanishvili, who has represented his country 55 times, is equally adept at playing centre back or right back and can also operate as a holding midfielder.

The former Rangers and Dundee defender will go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Sheffield United (7.45pm kick-off) and has been give the number 44 shirt.

Director of football Nick Hammond said: "We are very pleased to add Zurab to our squad and this is another signing that will add very good experience.

"He can play centre half, full back or as a holding midfielder so he also brings excellent versatility and I am sure he will prove to be a good addition."

He trained with his new teammates for the first time this morning. Khizanishvili began his career with three clubs in Tblisi, Dinamo, Norch and Lokomotiv before attracting the attention of Dundee, who signed him in 2001.

His form at Dens Park earned him a move to Rangers where he played in both the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

After three years at Ibrox Mark Hughes paid £500,000 to take him to Blackburn. He has spent a loan spell at Newcastle this season, as well as playing for Rovers in both the Carling Cup and FA Cup.

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3rijr

abery9, reading
26/01/2010 at 18:10

Good signing, but still an odd one. I imagine we may be saying goodbye to Cisse, Pearce or even Gunnarson this week.

Still agree that we need a striker, maybe a winger too. Up front, I think Church is our only real goal scorer with Hunt out injured. The new Icelantic guy may come good, but needs time to settle in and I'm concerned by the expectations being put on his shoulders.

Abu Dhabi Dave, Reading
25/01/2010 at 19:27

Thing is Silver Royal the club have pleny of cover up front now but central defence needs cover. Up front there is Church, Rasiak, Thorvaldsson, Long and Bignall plus Kebe and Robson-Kanu if desperate and Mooney assuming he can be recalled at any time should it be required.

On paper the squad looks stronger now in one month than it did at any time during the brief Rodgers era. Now we just need to take our cup form into the league.

RYF, Royal County of Berkshire
25/01/2010 at 16:54

I've heard rumours that Sheffield Utd are interested in Pearce. Maybe this loan signing is cover if true?

TilehurstSouthbank, Tilehurst, Reading
25/01/2010 at 16:51

If the club shop charge per letter then I sent see them selling many shirts with his name on the back! :O)

Has obviously mixed it at a high level, so I would guess he is seen a stop gap replacement if (or maybe when) the club offload Ingimarsson, Gunnarson or Cisse later this week.

Artful Dodger, Reading
25/01/2010 at 16:49

Will he play in midfield to add a bit of "bite" as Cisse is a bit on the slow side IMO. As to lack of goals shall we wait and see how Thorvaldsen gets on.

rayreevesleftfoot, wiltshire
25/01/2010 at 16:33

Give Gunnar a chance to show what he can do up front - yep I'd be happy if we could get Phillips on loan but I reckon Gunnar was signed as a replacement striker.

Makes sense if Pearce is going to Sheff Utd and Ivar has not yet signed a contract & considering Mills will miss about dozen games between now and the end of the season the way he is going!!!

Just no pleasing some of you who cry out that we need more experience you get it and still whinge!!!

C'mon URZZZZZ

Robsy , Reading
25/01/2010 at 16:29

Like to have the manager explain the logic of this one, as can't see where he is to play, although it is a matter of time only before Mills is suspended I suppose, and Pearce's lack of pace makes him unreliable. But Bryn and Cisse can cover there surely. Thought Ing had a great game Sat, one tackle when the man was through showed all the matturity that got us somewhere in the past. We do need a man who can 'put them away' as we wasted so chances again on Sat. Still waiting for that one which has been the priority since the start of the season.

Silver Royal, Woodley
25/01/2010 at 16:13

Matthew do your research on new signings. He signed for Dundee in 2001 not Dundee United (correct with Dens Park though!).

Good signing I reckon and the experience he will bring will be good for the young players. Two premiership defenders signed on loan within a couple of weeks shows quite a bit of work is being done behind the scenes by Nicky Hammond.

RYF, Royal County of Berkshire
25/01/2010 at 15:40

wheres he going to play then because griffin, mills, ingimarsson and bertrand all played very well together

james hammond
25/01/2010 at 15:34

Inspired. We can't score for toffee so sign another defender. This does nothing to improve the squad.

JD, Reading
25/01/2010 at 15:30

Excellent pedigree and another good loan signing by McDermott. Not bad for a rookie manager. Just need Kevin Phillips to come in on loan now and we'd be ok. Why the hell hasn't Madjeski announced a decision yet on McDermott's position, even if we all think we know the outcome.

I'd be surprised if Khizanishivili (I hope he's got a good nickname) has been brought in to sit on the bench. Does this mean that Ivar or Pearce could be going? Ivar's played better in the last couple of games but he doesn't seem happy with contract negotiations. Pearce is a good lad but I think he's the worst of our current centrbacks.

Biffa, Didcot
25/01/2010 at 14:45

may have looked half decent sat Dazzap but we've generally looked shaky all season at the back and imo would bring him in for IVAR as for me he looks way past his best.. good signing and can't imagine he would have came here if he wasn't gonna play so will be interesting to see what BM does on tuesday night..