Kitson heads back to Reading
Stoke’s record signing Dave Kitson is returning to former club Reading on loan and is likely to make the move permanent if the Royals are promoted to the Premier League.
The 29-year-old striker joined the Potters for £5.5m last July but has struggled to break into the first team and has made just 18 appearances, the last coming on January 17.
Stoke and Reading have agreed a six-figure loan fee and the Potters will hope to claw back most of the sum they paid for Kitson less than eight months ago if Steve Coppell’s side, currently third in the Coca-Cola Championship, return to the top flight.
“Dave has found it hard here, there’s no doubt about that, and this is a good move for him in so many ways,” manager Tony Pulis told The Sentinel.
“He’s going back to a place he knows well, rather than starting afresh again, and it is a great chance for him to get some games, some goals, and some confidence.
“He’s just been unfortunate of late with the increasing competition here for places in attack.
“We’ve had detailed talks with Reading and exactly what happens with Dave at the end of the season depends on whether Reading win promotion.”
Kitson has failed to score for Stoke and dropped further down the pecking order with the arrivals of James Beattie and Henri Camara in January.
