Paul Brooker is hoping for a friendly reception from Albion fans at Reading on Saturday, despite snubbing a return to the Seagulls.

The winger attracted interest from Albion in the summer after Leicester released him on a free transfer, but he signed for Reading instead.

Brooker, a first team regular when Albion won the Third and Second Divisions in successive seasons and were then relegated from the First, said: "I'm no Bobby Zamora, but I am hoping for a decent reception from the Brighton fans.

"I spoke to Mark McGhee and Bob Booker. I think there was some interest, but in the end I opted for Reading.

"They have got a really nice stadium and everything is set if they do eventually get into the Premiership.

"I am not sure how many players Brighton were thinking of signing or have signed.

"I loved my time down there, but I had to look at it from a football point of view.

"The last time we came up we struggled in the First Division and went back down. I didn't really want to have a repeat performance."

Brooker is expected to be in Reading's starting line-up on Saturday along with former Albion loan signings Steve Sidwell and Ivar Ingimarsson.