Former Reading winger John Salako has claimed that Paolo Di Canio could be a good managerial appointment for the Royals.

The Italian has been heavily linked with the job, which was made vacant yesterday evening when Brian McDermott was sacked following a three-year stint at the helm.

Despite the fact that Di Canio has only previously managed League One outfit Swindon Town, Salako has backed the 44-year-old to be a success if he was to be given the responsibility at the Madejski Stadium.

"He has fallen out with the Swindon guys, he's walked away, he's in-between jobs and he might be the perfect answer," Salako told talkSPORT.

"He could come in on an interim basis, they will say to him, 'let's see how it goes until the summer. Show us what you can do'.

"He will go and fire up that dressing room, grab people by the neck, throw cups of tea around and not let people slack off."

Di Canio was in the stands during Reading's 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa last weekend.