CALLUM HARRIOTT insists Reading are unfazed by the money being spent by their Championship rivals.
Royals defied the odds last campaign to finish third in the Championship, ahead of a number of big spending clubs.
And the challenge looks similar again this time around with Reading spending less than £5 million so far on their three summer recruits Pelle Clement, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Vito Mannone.
By comparison, freshly relegated Middlesbrough last week splashed out £15 million on striker Britt Assombalonga from Nottingham Forest.
However, Harriott says he and his teammates relish the chance to face the wealthier sides.
“We just buzz off making them look silly to be honest,” said the winger.
“That doesn’t really faze us.
“We don’t really look at that side of the game, we just focus on what we need to achieve this year and how we’re going to do it.”
Harriott showed glimpses of his talent during an injury-hit first season with the club, which ended prematurely after a hamstring problem in January.
The former Charlton Athletic man was set to return in time for the run-in, only to suffer a recurrence in training, forcing him to undergo surgery.
“It was a tough one to take, re-injuring myself again,” he said.
“But things are looking good, it’s going along well.
“I’m coming into the final stages now. It’s just about staying on top of it and I’m as hungry as ever to come back and make up for last year.
“The first month after the operation was the worst month in life.
“It was crazy but I got through it and the physios have been really good. I’m pushing them as much as they’re pushing me.
“I’d say I should be back around the start of the season. Probably won’t be August, but I’m not one to rush it back.”
Speaking at Reading’s Virtual Reality kit launch at Madejski Stadium, the 23-year-old insists there is no hangover from last season’s play-off final defeat to Huddersfield Town at Wembley.
“I’m sure we’ve all got our heads around it now and we’ll move on,” said Harriott.
“This team is always hungry.
“Losing the final, I don’t even want to talk about it. This season we’re just going to push to get promoted.
“I know everyone is on the same page, there’s no thinking twice about it.”
