Adam Federici is set to bolster Australia’s stocks in the English Premier League next season following Reading’s promotion.
Australia’s No.2 goalkeeper will play in the English top-flight after Mikele Leigertwood’s goal nine minutes from time secured a 1-0 home win over Nottingham Forest and elevation from the Championship.
With third-placed West Ham drawing 1-1 at Bristol City, Reading’s win provided them with an unassailable eight-point buffer with two matches to play.
Reading will return to the EPL for the first time since relegation in 2008 with the 27-year-old Federici playing a central part in his club’s miserly defence this season.
Reading have produced a storming finish to the season, winning 15 of the past 17 matches, to erase the bitter memories of their 4-2 loss to Swansea in last year’s Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Federici was at his instinctive best in the dying minutes against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night in keeping out Marcus Tudgay’s follow-up strike.
The final whistle ignited wild celebrations as Reading fans ran onto the pitch to embrace their players.
Federici made two EPL appearances for Reading during the 2006-07 season but will return to the competition as a seasoned performer, having established himself as the club’s No.1 for the past three seasons.
Federici will join compatriot Brett Holman in the EPL with the Dutch-based Holman heading to Aston Villa in the off-season.
The pair could be joined by Middlesbrough defender Rhys Williams in a much welcome injection of Australian blood to the EPL.
Seventh-placed Middlesbrough is an outside chance of qualifying for the Championship promotion playoffs this season.
If they fail to do so, Williams is a good chance of earning a transfer to the EPL with Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer and Chris Herd the only Australians regularly plying their trade in the competition.
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