Reading FC have always been a club that revolves around its talented youth academy, and with former Jung Ajax manager Jaap Stam having taken over as manager, what better time for the youngsters at Reading Football Club to really shine through and stake a claim for a first team spot.

There have been several young players who have come through the academy at Reading and gone on to achieve great things.

The Royals can count the likes of Iceland and Swansea midfield maestro Gylfi Sigurdsson, Ireland and Southampton striker Shane Long and his teammate Charlie Austin among the ranks of current Premier League players who came out of the academy.

There are several extremely talented young players in the current crop of youngsters, including the likes of George Evans, who was brought in from Manchester City for free in a shock January transfer coup.

Here are 3 youngsters Stam just has to use next season......

 

Josh Barrett

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The 17-year-old came out of nowhere to have an outstanding first team full debut against Preston, and now has many Reading fans arguing that he should start the season as a fixture in the first team.

Whilst he clearly has some rough edges, with a whole summer ahead of him, Jaap Stam could definitely iron these out, and turn the Irishman into a key player.

At just 17 he clearly has so much more potential to fill, and a run in the first team under Stam could do him the world of good.

Aaron Kuhl

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Most Reading fans expected last season to be the one where the frizzy-haired midfielder really broke onto the scene at Reading, but Steve Clarke didn't favour the youngster, and so he was farmed out to an underachieving Dundee United side, where he was played out of position.

The spell didn't do his growth any good, so it is vital that Stam gives him an extended run in the side next season, should he agree to a contract extension.

Dominic Samuel

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The young striker has bags of pace, and terrorised defences in League 1 on loan at Gillingham last season, where he stuck up an efficient partnership Bradley Dack.

As with Kuhl, lots of fans expected him to feature last season, but after proving himself out on loan, he is clearly ready for an extended run in the side.

His pace could go perfectly with the power on height of Yann Kermorgant, or the tenacity of Deniss Rakels next season.