Reading defender Tom Holmes insists he 'can't wait to get going' after signing a new three year contract with the Royals.

Born and bred in the town, the 22-year-old progressed through the Academy from aged eight and has made more than 70 first team appearances.

READ MORE: Reading FC defender Tom Holmes signs new three year deal

One of five first team players out of contract offered a new deal, he is the first to sign on the dotted line and commit his future.

Speaking to the club after the announcement, he said: "I’m delighted to get it done. It’s taken a while now but I’m happy to finally get it signed and I can’t wait to get going. This club has got a lot to offer, it’s done a lot for me growing up and over the next few years we can really push on and achieve something special.

"I know it’s been quite hard over the last year or so, but I think after having conversations with the gaffer, with Mark Bowen and with Brian [Carey] I think there’s a real scope here for us to push on."

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Now the centre-back has signed, it still leaves the likes of Andy Yiadom, Andy Rinomhota, Femi Azeez and Josh Laurent with offers on the table.

News broke yesterday that Laurent is on the brink of joining Championship rivals Stoke City, but the homegrown talent hopes more can follow his lead and stay in Berkshire.

"It’s going to be hard this coming season," he started. "But we’re all willing to put the work in and hopefully we can get the right players in and a few of the other lads put pen to paper like myself and get things going."

He referred back to this point later in the interview, saying: "I’m raring to come back now and hoping a few more put pens to paper over the next few weeks and get a few more in the door."

A fan from birth, he summed up his feelings by saying: "It means a lot to me, it means a lot to the people around me, it means a lot to my family, my friends are delighted- I’m happy to still be here and wearing the blue and white."