Danny Guthrie urges Reading "swagger"

Reading midfielder Danny Guthrie has urged his team mates to approach the new season with "swagger" as they look to bounce back into the Premier League.

The Royals were relegated last term but Guthrie says they should be seen as one of the big teams in the Championship.

"This season is totally different," Guthrie told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"We are the big fish and we need to have a bit of swagger about us and walk into these games knowing that we are the big team in this league."

Reading have so far added Royston Drenthe, Wayne Bridge and Danny Williams to their squad and Guthrie says they are raring to go when the host Ipswich Town at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

"We've done everything we can and now it is about going out there and performing," he said, "We are all ready to go.

"It's vital we have a good start if we want to do something this year.

"Everyone has got the same goal and we all want to get promotion. There is no better place to start than at home on Saturday and if we can get that win it will lift everyone's confidence."

Manager Nigel Adkins has urged his side to forget about their relegation last season and approach the new season with a positive mentality.

"There is a focus about everybody," Adkins told BBC Radio Berkshire. "It's about winning games of football and that starts on Saturday.

"It's start of a long 10 months. It's a big challenge mentally. From my point of view there has to be a consistent message and belief in the players.

"The mind is a wonderful thing and we need to have a positivity but we will work hard and that needs to be the message."