Reading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak living the Premier League "dream"

Reading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak has said that he is delighted to be playing in the Premier League.

The 28-year-old Russia international played for Fulham in the English top flight for the second half of the 2011-12 season and joined Reading in July.

"My dream has always been to play in the Premier League," Pogrebnyak told Sports.ru.

"At the end of the '90s I liked watching English football very much so I wanted to sign in England but I didn't think it would happen so late. But now I'm here and I'm happy about it."

Asked why he liked English football so much, Pogrebnyak explained: "Because of the speed, fights and tough play. As a striker I always liked crosses from the wings.

"When I was sitting in front of the television in Russia I was amazed to see when someone headed the ball after a big jump or started to dribble, it was very fascinating for me to see.

"Scoring a goal like this and then running to the fans - it's like paradise for me."

Pogrebnyak has played for clubs including Spartak Moscow and Stuttgart during his career.