Following 11 years away, Shane Long returned to the club that he began his journey in English football with in July 2022.

Long had initially joined the Royals from Cork City in 2005 when he arrived with fellow Irishmen Kevin Doyle, and made his debut in a 2-0 win over Leicester just before Christmas.

Off the mark just days later to rescue a late point at Derby County, Long scored three more times as he helped Steve Coppell’s men to a record-breaking Championship title in 2006.

He scored in wins over Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic in the Premier League, which helped earn him his first Republic of Ireland cap in February 2007.

Following the Royals’ return to the Championship, Long scored nine goals in two successive seasons - then netted 25 goals as Brian McDermott’s team reached the Championship Play-Off Final in 2011.

He departed that summer for then-top-flight side West Bromwich Albion and scored in his first two matches against Manchester United and Chelsea - his club form earning a spot in the Republic’s Euro 2012 squad.

After three years at the Hawthorns, Shaen departed for Hull City where he got his first taste of European football in the form of the UEFA Europa League, before joining Southampton in August 2014.

A year later, the forward scored his first goal in European competition whilst with the Saints against Vitesse Arnhem, and he scored his 100th goal in English football against Manchester City in May 2016. Playing a key role as the South Coast club finished sixth, Long then featured in all four of Ireland’s matches at Euro 2016.

In April 2019, Long broke the record for the fastest goal scored in Premier League history with his effort 7.69 seconds into a match at Vicarage Road against Watford.

A short loan spell at AFC Bournemouth followed in 2021 and he finally departed St Mary’s in 2022 having made almost 250 appearances in his eight years with the Saints - and made a long-awaited return home to Reading.