Garath McCleary is confident he can help Reading to hold their own in the Premier League and has title hopefuls Chelsea in his sights.
Royals winger determined to make his mark in the top flight
Garath McCleary is confident he can help Reading to hold their own in the Premier League and has title hopefuls Chelsea in his sights.
The 25-year-old winger stepped up into the big time this summer after earning a reputation as a direct playmaker capable of creating and taking chances during a productive spell at Nottingham Forest.
Reading snapped him up as a free agent, with Brian McDermott delighted to add a player of considerable potential to his ranks.
The Royals made a positive start to their top flight return on Saturday as they held Stoke to a 1-1 draw at the Madejski Stadium, with McCleary stepping off the bench to earn a late penalty.
"It was an amazing experience for me," he told
Sky Sports News Radio.
"The atmosphere was brilliant and I just couldn't wait to get out and come off the bench. Thankfully I was able to do that.
Influence
"It was good to come on and be an influence as well. I think the team held its own in the first and second halves against a really experienced Premier League team, so I think we did well as a whole.
"Coming on as a sub you know you have to come on and change the game, because that's why you are being sent on. But I knew if I could keep being direct and running at my man I could have an impact, and I was happy to do that. To get a penalty and be part of the goal was fantastic for me.
"I will always think that I can change a game if I play, so hopefully I can continue to do that - starting with the game on Wednesday."
Reading travel to Stamford Bridge in midweek looking to claim a shock scalp and McCleary believes they are capable of springing a surprise, even if few people give the visitors much chance of taking anything from a visit to a Premier League heavyweight.
"Most people won't but I know that if we go out and play with no fear, which we want to do for the remaining games of the season, hopefully we can salvage something," he added.
"But it will be a tough game because they are one of the biggest clubs in the world, let alone England. If we play with no fear, anything could happen."
