Leeds United have retained the services of on-loan goalkeeper Alex McCarthy from Reading for another month.
Royals keeper staying on at Elland Road
Leeds United have retained the services of on-loan goalkeeper Alex McCarthy from Reading for another month.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a fruitful spell at Elland Road after being signed following an injury to first-choice Andy Lonergan.
McCarthy saved a penalty in Leeds' 1-1 weekend draw with Watford and had been due to return to the Royals this week.
The shot-stopper will not be permitted to face his parent club in Saturday's meeting and they also have the option of recalling him at 24 hours' notice.
Director of football Nicky Hammond says Reading were happy to allow McCarthy to continue his development in West Yorkshire as Adam Federici is doing a job between the sticks.
Talent
"Alex is an outstanding talent and wants to continue his development by playing regularly at the highest possible level," Hammond told the club's
official website.
"With Adam Federici in such fine form, this further spell will help Alex greatly and will not weaken our first team.
"Indeed, with Mikkel Andersen we have another exceptional goalkeeping talent and may well have to develop similar plans in the future to assist Mikkel's continued progress.
"Both Alex and Mikkel have made it clear to me that their goal is to be first-team regular at our club, which could not be better for us."
Thankful
Earlier on Monday the promising shot-stopper stated he would be happy remaining with Leeds if there was a chance of additional first-team action.
McCarthy has played his part in Leeds' upturn in form, helping secure three clean sheets from six appearances and Grayson has thanked Reading boss Brian McDermott for allowing him to stay.
"I'd like to thank Brian McDermott at Reading for allowing Alex to stay on here for another month," Grayson said on Leeds'
official website.
"He has done very well for us in the time he has been here, he's a fantastic young goalkeeper, and we're grateful to Reading for allowing him to stay on.
"We have a number of games coming up and by keeping Alex it enables us to have plenty of options in that area."
