Reading Chronicle

Manager Noel Hunt had said following Saturday's 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic that a midfield addition would be prioritised as Michael Craig suffered a season-ending injury.

An England Under-21 regular a decade ago, Carroll starred for Exeter City last year and was in League One with Ipswich Town before then, spending the previous decade exclusively in the Championship and Premier League.

Moving to League Two MK Dons last summer, he made 16 appearances but mutually ended his contract last month, leaving him now a free agent heading into the final couple of months of the season.

An experienced operator who could play in any of the midfield areas, Carroll will allow the likes of Wing and Savage a well-earned rest.

Hunt said, "We're delighted to bring in a player of Tom's experience into the building to bolster our options in the final stages of the season.

He's someone who has played a huge number of games across the EFL and Premier League, and as a person he is just the kind of character we are looking to recruit into our squad."

Two goals and two assists came in December as the Royals won three of their six league fixtures. The former Middlesbrough man also grabbed an assist in the 5-3 victory over non-league Harborough Town in the FA Cup.

Leyton Orient duo Omar Beckles and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Keeley were nominated as Richie Wellens' side kept six clean sheets in the month and dropped just two points, remaining unbeaten and moving up to eighth in League One.

This follows on from a superb November for 21-year-old Keeley who scored a stoppage-time equaliser for the Os' in an FA Cup win over non-league Oldham Athletic.

Reading travel to Brisbane Road on Saturday looking to be the first side to score a league goal in that corner of East London since November 26, a run of six matches.

Birmingham City pair Krystian Bielik and Jay Stansfield were also nominated alongside Huddersfield Town's David Kasumu, all crucial for both side's promotion pushes at the end of 2024.

The 21-year-old twins- born two minutes apart- rose through the ranks together with Tottenham Hotspur until Michael moved to Berkshire in 2022.

Now approaching half a century of appearances for the Royals, Craig has become a popular and versatile option under the management of Ruben Selles.

Matthew, meanwhile, is still registered with Spurs and has managed to record four first-team appearances in North London.

Playing 20 times for Doncaster Rovers on loan in League Two last season as they went from relegation battlers to promotion chasers in the second half of the year, the defensive-minded midfielder has moved up the pyramid this year and will spend the campaign on loan at Oakwell.

The duo, both Scotland youth internationals, could face each other twice this season as the Tykes and Royals share a division.

The first meeting of the year is set for September, however, this could be moved nearer the time due to international call-ups.

Darrell Clarke's Yorkshiremen don't visit Berkshire until May, the final week of the regular season.