McDermott keen to emphasise youth development

Reading manager Brian McDermott has been keen to emphasis that despite the club's promotion to the Premier League, the Royals' youth players will not be ignored.

The Royals have produced some fantastic talent from their academy in recent years. The most notable of these names being player of the season Alex Pearce, along with Jem Karacan, Hal Robson-Kanu and Simon Church, who have all played their part in this season's Championship winning campaign.

McDermott told the official RFC site: 'It won't have an effect, if they're good enough they'll come and play. If they need time, we generally loan players out. We've done it, Lawson D'Ath, Jordan Obita. Pearcey, Churchy, Gylfi, they were all loaned out and the policy won't change because we're in another division.'

The youth currently being progressed at the moment is also looking very promising for the Royals. Jordan Obita is on the verge of the first team at the age of 18, having already played for the England U19s. Michail Antonio has done superbly at Sheffield Wednesday to aid their promotion, while Michael Hector has shone on loan at Barnet.

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