DOMINIC Samuel is ready to play a waiting game in a bid to nail down a regular place in the Reading FC first team.

Royals boss Jaap Stam is short of options up front following injuries to Deniss Rakels and Yakou Meite.

Stam also failed to sign another striker in the summer transfer window following strong links to Asamoah Gyan, Gabby Agbonlahor and Conor Washington.

But the Dutchman has resisted the temptation to use 22-year-old Samuel on a regular basis, with Yann Kermorgant operating as his lone striker.

However, Samuel told the Reading Chronicle: “Do you know what, that’s football. All you can do is keep holding your head up high, always stay positive and be ready for your chance.

“The younger lads have always got to be ready, so I won’t take any negatives from it.

“These things happen in football and you have to take them on the chin.”

Samuel has made just two first-team appearances this season in the EFL Cup win at Brighton last week and Tuesday night’s 4-1 league defeat at Brentford.

But his opportunity against the Seagulls was cut short as he was substituted before the interval following Tyler Blackett’s red card in the 2-1 victory.

He also made a brief appearance against the Bees when he replaced Callum Harriott in the 85th minute.

Samuel added: “My confidence is high right now, but it just so happened Tyler Blackett got a red card at Brighton so I was sacrificed and had to come off.

“The manager spoke to me and said it was purely tactical, that I was working well on the pitch and that my time will come again soon.

“Like I say, I’ve just got to get on with it, keep working hard and wait for my next chance.”

And Samuel stressed he is happy to bide his time and wait until he gets the nod from Stam.

“With me, I never get too comfortable, I always want to do better and I always feel I can force my way into this team,” he declared. “Hopefully, time will tell.

“I’m confident I will have a run in the first team at some point because I believe in my ability.

“I have God on my side and hopefully it will happen in due course.

“I’m not the type to go banging on the manager’s door, I would rather show him on the football pitch.

“I believe in my ability and I know Reading will see that for themselves. I’ll let my football do the talking.”

Samuel has enjoyed a number of productive loan spells in the past two seasons, scoring seven goals for Gillingham in 25 games and six for Coventry City in 13 matches.

He added: “With the goals I have scored while out on loan I am more confident and I know my time will come this year, it’s just a matter of when. I will just keep working hard and see how it goes.”

Reading's eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions reached a disappointing end in a 4-1 mauling at Brentford on Tuesday night.

Stam welcomes back winger Garath McCleary from suspension for tomorrow's visit of Derby County, who have suspended manager Nigel Pearson following a bust-up with the club's owners (3pm ko).

But Blackett remains suspended for the Royals while Yakou Meite and Deniss Rakels are sidelined through injury.

The Rams, who picked up a much-needed win at Cardiff City on Tuesday, are likely to name former Royals Alex Pearce, Nick Blackman and Matej Vydra in their squad.