Five of Ruben Selles’ youth players played for Reading’s first team in the win against Watford

In the successful start to the pre-season, five young players were used for the first time in the first team on Saturday.

Adrian Akande and Jayden Wareham scored for Ruben Selles’ side in a 2-0 win over Watford, with both teams playing 45 minutes each in the opening friendly.

Players such as Lewis Wing, Harvey Knibbs and Femi Azeez all gained valuable minutes in the tank, alongside five teenagers still waiting for their official first-team debut.

Check out the five young players who will get the chance to impress in Hertfordshire below.

Ahmed

Ahmed, 16, replaced Kelvin Abrefa at half-time as club captain Andy Yiadom missed the game.

Ahmed has only played seven times for Mikele Leigertwood’s U18 team and is still relatively unknown among fans.

However, he did make one start on the bench for Selles’ first team, as an unused substitute in the 5-2 win over Arsenal U21s in the EFL Trophy.

Abraham Kanu

Kanu, 19, continued his development with 45 minutes for Selles’ first team and it felt like it was only a matter of time.

The defender, who was named Academy Player of the Year in 2022, made 37 appearances for the U18s last season and got his first chance for Noel Hunt’s U21s

Kanu, who started against the Hornets and was replaced by Tyler Bindon at halftime, could play more often in the 2024/25 season.

John Ryan

Left-back Ryan, 20, has become a regular in Hunt’s U21 team, appearing in all PL2 play-off games, but has yet to find a place in the first team.

The closest the Irishman came to a debut was in April, when he started on the bench in the 2-2 draw with Barnsley, but the defender did not play.

With Clinton Mola moving to Bristol Rovers and Jeriel Dorsett not being a natural left-back, Ryan could be used this season.

Adrian Akande

Akande, considered by many to be the shooting star of the coming season, signed his first professional contract last week.

The 20-year-old scored six goals and provided seven assists in 17 PL2 appearances for Hunt’s U21 side and was also a star in the Berks and Bucks’ victorious Senior Cup season.

An electrifying winger who can take on opponents, Akande made the most of his cameo appearance in pre-season to score the first goal.

Andre Garcia

Little is known about U18 midfielder Garcia, but the young player provided one assist in 11 appearances for Leigertwood’s side.

The winger came on for Azeez at half-time and lasted 35 minutes before making way for Basil Tuma.