Head of the Academy at Reading, Michael Gilkes, and the Under-21 manager, Noel Hunt, have both underlined the importance of going out on loan for young players.

The two former playing legends, along with the likes of Mikele Leigertwood who is the Under-18s manager, are key figures in youth development at Bearwood.

There are currently three Academy players out on loan in the non-league pyramid, while others such as Nahum Melvin-Lambert and David Nyarko have already returned from temporary switches.

Both Gilkes and Hunt had loan moves early in their career, and it is something they are fully behind for the newest crop of talented youngsters.

Reading Chronicle:

"You are at a stage where you need to go out and fend for yourself," Gilkes stated. "This is a very unique environment, as most Academies are, where you are safe. If you go to another club, whether it is on loan or your are sold, you have to look after your own accommodation and food- the reality of life. It’s a look in the mirror time, and you can’t coach them that. It is not always your eyes, you’re at another club with another manager- you need to go and impress them. It is a big experience, but a good one."

Hunt- who only arrived earlier in the year- used the example of midfielder Ethan Burnett when discussing loan moves.

"For me, Ethan Burnett is on loan at Havant and playing really well, Under-21 football isn’t enough for him, and it won’t progress him, so there’s no point in having him here in these games. I’d like to bring him back for a couple of games to see the difference in him and how he talks because he's been in the men’s game.

"Every player we have out on loan, we always watch them. We do reports and make sure they’re doing the right things. They come back here during the week and work on things that they can get better that the manager wants to see. It’s about getting these boys careers in the game.

"You can play 100 Under-21 games, five first team games trumps that. It’s ruthless. We are sending the players out to a decent standard where they might get a £100 bonus or £50 bonus, it means everything to these players- not the money, winning."