YAKOU Meite is content to play a supporting role with Reading FC after finding first-team opportunities hard to come by.

The 21-year-old striker has made only 12 league appearances, scoring once, since his summer move from Paris Saint-Germain.

Now the arrival of Lewis Grabban on loan from Bournemouth in the January transfer window has increased competition up front and pushed Meite further down the pecking order.

But the former Ivory Coast U20 international is happy to play a waiting game.

He told the Reading Chronicle: “Of course I want to play more games, every player does.

“But I think I need to learn and if I want to play more I have to do more.

“I have spoken with the gaffer and I know he believes in me.

“I just have to work a bit more and then hopefully I can play more games.”

Meite has been kicking his heels on the substitutes’ bench for Reading’s last two matches, a 3-2 home win against Brentford and 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday.

But he added: “I’m very happy here. My team-mates help me to speak English and I like it in Reading.

“It’s a good move for me. I am a young player and I want to progress.

“I am also so happy to have scored my first goal for Reading and I would like to get more.

“Coming off the bench is good for the moment and when I do come on I think I have done well.

“I want to play more for Reading and I want to start games, but I need to work hard.”

Meite spent seven years in PSG's Academy and his goals against teams including Chelsea and AS Roma helped them reach the UEFA Youth League final last season.

His one and only first-team appearance for PSG came in a 2-0 win against Guingamp last April before he ended ties with the club by signing a three-year deal with Royals.

And Meite, who had also been linked with Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough, is loving life under Stam.

“He's like a father to me,” he said. “But I think he is a father to all the players, not just for me.

“He is a great coach and he was a great player before that. He can help us improve our ability and we are lucky to be able to learn from him and all of his staff.”

Meite is finally adjusting to his new Berkshire surroundings, despite his well-publicised gaff when he filmed himself driving down a Reading town centre bus lane in order to avoid heavy traffic on the way to training.

He has a growing army of followers on social media and is becoming something of a cult hero among Royals supporters.

And he says having fellow French speakers such as Yann Kermorgant and Joseph Mendes in the same dressing room has helped him settle down.

“It's nice to have Yann and Joseph around, I speak French with them,” he explained. “But sometimes we also try and speak English together so we can improve.

“Yann has been here in England for a long time now, he speaks English very well. Joseph's is also getting better but I am still learning. It's not too bad but it could be better.

“When I came to Reading I couldn't say much at all, but now I can say lots of things.”

Meite is set to be named in the Reading squad this Saturday for the televised six-pointer at Brighton (5.30pm ko, live Sky Sports).

Stam's men could close the gap on second-placed Seagulls to just five points with a victory at Amex Stadium to boost their chances of snatching an automatic promotion spot.

And Meite is thrilled by the prospect of what lies ahead.

“I am very excited to be here,” he added. “It's my first season in England and if we get to the Premier League it would be very good for me and all of the players.

“As I said, I am a young player but I want to stay here a long time and if we get to the Premier League I hope to show my quality.”