Shaun Goater declared he was ready to "give it some" ahead of his Reading debut today.

Goater, 33, joined the First Division promotion hopefuls two weeks ago for ?600,000 and gets his first run out when the Royals travel to Ipswich on the opening day of the new season.

"I'm very much looking forward to it," he told the club's official website, Reading World.

"It makes the hairs stand up on my neck and that's because I've got such a buzz about the club, which is a feeling I had from initially looking around here.

"I'm looking forward to putting on the shirt, getting pumped up before we go out onto the pitch and saying, `come on, let's give it some!'"

Reading manager Alan Pardew believes Goater and strike partner Nicky Forster can be one of the best duos in the division.

He said: "I feel we have one of the most fearsome partnerships up front in Nicky Forster and Shaun - on paper.

"I think it will be a dangerous partnership that can punish teams.

"Shaun's been with us a week but nailing the tactics down was never an issue.

"I have changed the structure of the team in a day and a half before, and we have had a full week to work on things.

"However, until we go out there I won't know what the balance of the side is like.

"And when we start the season I will have to make a quick decision within five or six games.

"But pre-season has gone well. The main priority is everyone is fit."

Of his new partner up front, Goater, who will wear the number nine shirt, said: "He's quite a character, a bit of a joker, but on the field we're trying to build an understanding, and with a few games that will get better.

"The main thing is that I'm starting to understand him and he has learnt a little bit about me."

Ipswich are managed by Joe Royle, the man who took Goater to his previous club Manchester City and in so doing helped turned him into a legend.

The player believes it will be tough today.

"The opposition are a good footballing team, they'll be up there at the end of the season, and it's important that we're matching them fitness wise," he said.

Fans can watch full highlights of Goater's debut at Ipswich on Reading World on Monday. Click on readingfc.co.uk for details.