READING FC Academy coach David Dodds believes the club's top youngsters can follow in the footsteps of Josh Barrett and push their way into the first team.

Teenager Barrett made his debut for Brian McDermott's first team last season following a string of eye-catching performances at youth level.

The 17-midfielder earned his first taste of Championship football in a 3-1 defeat at Huddersfield in March and then went on to play 45 minutes against Preston in a 2-1 home loss before making his full senior debut in a 2-1 reverse at Blackburn on the last day of the campaign.

And Under 18s chief Dodds says Barrett's rise through the ranks is a perfect example for others to follow.

“Josh was a fantastic player in the U18s,” said Dodds. “He was certainly ready to move up to the next level or the next two levels.

“He was involved in 70% of the goals we have scored this season in the U18s which tells you a lot about the lad.

“Coming off the bench for the second half against Preston and getting his first start against Blackburn, I thought he looked comfortable in those games.

“It’s always nice because you sometimes wonder how they are going to react to that level but I think he did really well.”

As well as Barrett, fellow Academy graduates Tennai Watson and Rob Dickie were involved with the first team squad last season.

McDermott has also welcomed back Dominic Samuel, Craig Tanner, Tariqe Fosu and Jack Stacey from loan spells with Gillingham, Plymouth, Accrington and Carlisle respectively and all are in with a shout of making McDermott's future squads.

In addition ex-Academy midfielder Aaron Tshibola is hoping to put an injury-ravaged campaign behind him and play a key role next season.

Dodds added: “We’ve had a record over the last few years of getting young players into the first team, which I think adds belief.

“The players believe they can get into the team and Josh is proof of that.

“Gabriel Osho has also been in and around the first team and Sam Smith has had a really good year, scoring 20 goals in a really high level of youth football.

“There have been a fair few others that have really pushed on this year.”

And Dodds stressed there will always be a pathway into the first team for all young players.

“The first team management are brilliant here,” he continued.

“They’ll take the lads with the first team training, which is a good indication for them just to see how they compete.

“We try and say to tell the boys to try and use it as an opportunity and don’t just make the numbers, take that chance.”

And he added: “Once you get to first team management, it’s all result driven and it’s great that they’ve taken these players in.

“It’s important that the lads, on their part, perform when they’re there.

“It can’t be a token gesture and the fact is it’s important that the youngsters meet the standards of the level required.

“I think the crowd always respond well to home grown players which is a common trait and it would be great to get some of these lads getting into the team.

“Judging by the level of players we’ve produced in previous seasons at this club and others, the kind of level of players we are producing are good enough to compete in the Championship and even help progress the club to the Premier League.

“That’s the objective we’re trying to reach.”