AARON Tshibola is targeting a regular first-team spot with the Royals after an impressive start to the season.

The midfielder excelled in pre-season and was rewarded with a surprise inclusion against Birmingham City on the opening day - his first competetive start for the Royals.

He took his chance and put in a solid display - and could’ve equalised had his shot that seemingly crossed the line been given.

The 20-year-old also came on as an extra-time substitute against Colchester United and he’s now set his sights on a regular spot in Steve Clarke’s side.

“It was my full debut at Birmingham and I was pleased with my performance,” he said. “I had a little tingle ahead of the game when I saw the fans and everything but the older lads and the team helped me to relax.

“The aim now is to keep working hard, keep my feet on the ground and the rest will take care of itself.

"It's helped being in pre-season with the boys and all the lads are excellent. We're a team so that helps.

"There's some experienced lads in the team and they're always talking to me so that's good."

Tshibola spent the second half of last season on loan at Hartlepool, where he helped them perform the great escape as Ronnie Moore's side overturned a ten point deficit at the foot of the table to stay up on the penultimate Saturday of the season.

The Royals midfielder quickly established himself as a firm fan favourite at Victoria Park and now wants to do the same at the Madejski Stadium.

He added: “The Hartelpool loan was a massive help in terms of my development and in terms of adapting to a different style of football. It's something I wasn't used to so it's helped me a lot for my career.

“As a midfielder you have to be do everything. A modern day footballer has to be able to go box-to-box or sit in as a deep lying player so I don't really have a set role but whatever the manager asks me to do I'll do."