THE ACADEMY: Prolific Reading crop underpin promotion push

Reading find themselves on the cusp of another push for the Premier League, if they play their cards right the rest of this current campaign.

They presently sit just outside the playoff places in a ferociously competitive and even Championship where it could go right down to the wire again just like last season’s enthralling promotion run-in.

Manager Steve Clarke has an enviable track record of title experience to call upon, while the first-team squad is a potent mix of wily veterans, established foreign players and youngsters keen to make their mark.

Ali Al-Habsi and Paul McShane currently provide the wisdom with American Danny Williams and Portuguese striker Orlando Sá weighing in with foreign nouse alongside crucial loan stars Matěj Vydra, Lucas Piazon (video below), Ola John and Álex Fernández.

What of the Royals academy system then? Is it producing enough talented players to keep Clarke’s first-choice XI on their toes?

Two of them have already made such an impression that they have racked up 30 international caps and a move to Chelsea respectively.

Elusive frontman Hal Robson-Kanu fine tuned his game on loan at Southend and Swindon before he nailed down a regular first-team place for both Reading and also Wales under Chris Coleman.

Defender Michael Hector, meanwhile, is only playing this season back on loan after Chelsea swooped for him in the summer transfer window.

Hector started out in the Thurrock and Millwall youth systems before Reading took him on and proceeded to farm him out on loan to no less than 11 clubs!

Much like Harry Kane and Ryan Mason at Spurs, it didn’t seem to do him any harm though as his performances last term duly alerted Jose Mourinho and his scouts.

The Jamaican international will be sorely missed come the end of the season, however Clarke and his backroom team still have a bevy of intriguing youngsters eager to follow his path.

Academy product Jordan Obita has risen through the England ranks to cement a regular slot at left-back with midfielder Aaron Tshibola also becoming a firm fixture.

It is Rowan Liburd (pic below) and Conor Davis, though, that are currently getting plaudits for their prolific form in the U21 and U18 Premier Leagues respectively.

Liburd has made the first-team bench a few times in recent matches on the back of a sensational U21 spell that has seen him notch eight goals.

He left England at 17 for the American college system where he plundered goals for fun at Georgia’s Thomas University before returning to plunder even more at non-league Billericay Town.

Signed during the summer, Liburd has been mixing with the academy players at U21 level to devastating effect with 18-year-old Davis notching time and again down at U18 level.

In terms of other shining lights, Twitter insider @TheRoyals106 knows more than most which academy players are set for the big time.

He revealed: “There are numerous players throughout Reading’s youth system that are showing huge potential and are not far away from following in the footsteps of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Alex Pearce and Jem Karacan.

“The pick of these are currently gaining vital experience elsewhere, on loan at clubs throughout the country. Towering centre back Robert Dickie, creative midfielder Jake Sheppard and talented finisher Craig Tanner are among those impressing.

“However, there are also some youngsters who have already had a taste of the first team and are hungry for more.

“Centre half Jake Cooper, versatile defender Niall Keown (son of Martin) and wingers Jack Stacey (video below) and Tarique Fosu are among these players.

“All four made their debuts last season, with Fosu and Cooper having previously been linked with Aston Villa and Manchester United, respectively.

“Perhaps the most talented youngster at the club is midfielder Aaron Kuhl (top pic/video below), who is currently plying his trade on loan at Dundee United.

“The 19-year-old’s eye for a pass and defensive abilities has seen him feature for the England U21 side and led to rumours of a £1 million bid from Manchester City.”

As you can see, the future is golden Reading way with several vying to be the next big thing on the international scene.

Royals fans will be hoping they can achieve that next season in the Premier League.

This is a regular academy column for Yahoo Sport UK.

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