 After much negotiation with Lokomotiv, a season-long loan deal was agreed on 26 August 2006, giving Reading the option to purchase the player at the end of the loan.He was sent off for receiving two yellow cards in only his second Premier League appearance, after pulling Didier Drogba's shirt in a 1–0 defeat to Chelsea at the Madejski Stadium on 14 October.He scored his first goal for the club in his return to action 11 days later, as Reading were knocked out of the League Cup after being beaten 4–3 by Liverpool at Anfield.