Marcus Hahnemann to stay Royal till 2007

Marcus Hahnemann has signed a deal to keep him with Reading until the summer of 2007. The Royals' have had a stand out year thanks in large part to Hahnemann's effort between the posts. This run of good play looks very likely to place them in the Premireship next year.

"It's always nice to have your future sorted," said Hahnemann, who has not missed a league game since the end of the 2003-04 season. "The club had an option in the summer anyway but it's nice to get it done early.

"I've been here a while now, I've played 170-odd games and I think the team has grown and I've grown with it. Everyone has done well, the strikers have been scoring, the midfielders have done well both going forward and at the back, it's been great."

Hahnemann is someone to watch since Kasey Keller will probably be stepping aside as America's number one goalkeeper in the next couple of years. His numbers this year have been very strong as he has kept a clean sheet in 16 out of 28 matches. He has also been a strong leader for his club. All these things could add up to a starting job with the US national team in a few years.