READING FC have taken further steps to protect the futures of four rising Academy stars by handing them new contracts.

Tom Holmes has penned a fresh deal until summer 2022, while Tom McIntyre, Teddy Howe and Jordan Holsgrove have signed on until 2021.

The news comes a day after Royals tied 21-year-old midfielder Andy Rinomhota down on a three-year contract until summer 2022.

Reading-born Holmes, a former Maiden Erlegh School pupil, made his first team debut aged 17 when he helped Royals clinch a 1-1 draw with Bolton in March last year.

The central defender, who recently recovered from injury, joined the Reading Academy as an eight-year-old and worked his way up through the youth team ranks to become part of the first-team squad.

McIntyre, who also attended Maiden Erlegh School, has been on Royals’ books since a six-year-old and was a season ticket holder when he was younger.

Like Holmes, he progressed through the youth set-up to become the 48th Academy player to represent the first team in a 1-1 draw at Rotherham in December.

However, the 20-year-old defender suffered a serious blow to the head and, although he played the full 90 minutes, he later required surgery for a fractured skull.

Reading are now closely monitoring his condition as he nears a return to full fitness.

Howe, 20, can play in defence or as a wing-back and has been a regular for Scott Marshall’s Under 23s.

The son of Reading chief executive Nigel Howe, he has also been involved in Checkatrade Trophy matches in the past and is known for his pace and technical ability.

Holsgrove’s father, Paul, is also well known to Reading fans having scored seven times in 83 appearances from 1994 to 1997 and been part of the squad that lost to Bolton Wanderers in the 1995 Division One play-off final at Wembley.

Midfielder Jordan, 19, is a Scotland youth international and another regular of Marshall’s U23s side.