John Salako

Joining the BBC team for the World Cup finals in Korea and Japan is the perfect ending to a successful season for John Salako.

The 33-year-old striker has had an enjoyable season, which climaxed in Reading's promotion to Division One after finishing runners-up to Brighton in Division Two.

And the season as a whole has been a highlight of a career that has seen him play top flight football at Charlton, Coventry City and Crystal Palace.

Salako made his name at Crystal Palace and played an integral part in the club's FA Cup run in 1990 - scoring in a thrilling 4-3 semi-final win over Liverpool.

In 1991 Salako suffered a cruciate ligament injury, which kept him out for most of the season.

The striker left the club he started at as a trainee in 1995 and struggled to settle at another club.

Salako helped Reading to promotion this season

He was a £1.5m signing for Coventry, but only lasted two seasons in the Midlands before he was loaned out to Bolton and finally released on a free to Fulham.

In 1999 he joined Charlton on loan and impressed enough for the newly-promoted club to sign him for £150,000.

After being shipped out on loan again this season - this time to Reading - the form that earned him three England caps returned.

He was an integral part of Reading's successful promotion campaign and will start next season as a Division One player after signing a permanent deal.

Nigerian-born Salako started his broadcasting career commentating on the African Nations Cup for Channel Four.

Since then he has also worked on the last World Cup in France in 1998 and Euro 2000 and also worked for the BBC during this year's African Nations Cup.