However, after some impressive early games he failed to make a real impression last season and found himself out of the side by Christmas. But now he wants his place back in the first team.
He told readingfc.co.uk: "At the end of last season, I went on holiday and after that started training hard. But then in the last three weeks my body told me you can't do any more and I was ill with a virile infection from over-training! So that didn't help me at all but I seem to be alright at the moment, and I'm coping with the demands of training. I've lost a lot of weight, to be honest. My fat percentage since the start of pre-season has gone down loads, which was a good thing."
Harps went on to comment on the pre season fixtures: "They are all important games to get a run out, a touch of the ball, a feel of the game situation and it was good for the fitness as well.
"I am obviously looking forward to the pre-season games with Charlton and West Ham. They will be very good as you don't get better than Premiership opposition. I'll try to score a couple of goals in them and get a place in the team for the Derby County game! So hopefully I'll have a good pre-season to lead up to that."