It will be three years in December since Reading last beat Luton Town at the SCL Stadium.

Winless in the last five meetings, the Royals had only lost three times in the previous 20 years to the Hatters.

Despite the short amount of time in between, only three players that started are still in Berkshire- and that only exends to six across the entire 20-man squad.

Reading 2-1 Luton Town, December 26 2020...where are they?

Rafael- Cruzeiro

A one-time Player of the Year award winner, Brazilian Rafael joined in 2019 and made himself a hero on his debut in a shoot-out victory over Wycombe Wanderers.

A regular across two seasons, he fell out of favour in 2021/22 as Luke Southwood took over before a range of loane keepers played under Paul Ince.

With 98 appearances to his name, his contract was terminated in January 2022 and he moved back home with Cruzeiro.

Tomas Esteves- Pisa

A highly-rated youngster, the full-back arrived with much fanfare on loan from Porto.

Struggling to fully maintain his spot in the side, the teenager played 30 times and scored his only professional goal in a draw with Swansea City.

Now on loan in Italy, the 21-year-old is still yet to have the career many tipped him for.

Tom Holmes- Reading

A breakthrough season for Holmes, a year on from his first-team debut, the defender was a changed man after his stint abroad in Belgium.

40 appearances made his a real regular under Veljko Paunovic- still his best return yet.

Now the vice-captain with over 100 starts to his name, the Academy graduate has a long future at his hometown club.

Reading Chronicle:

Michael Morrison- Cambridge United

'Morrodonna' was a veteran of over 350 club appearances before his 2019 Berkshire move, captaining most of the clubs he had been at.

A popular figure, the centre-back made over 100 starts in three seasons with the club, helping the youngsters break through and proving he was still a solid Championship defender.

Moving on in the summer, the 35-year-old had a short-lived spell with Portsmouth before moving home to Cambridge.

Tom McIntyre- Reading

The Reading boy through-and-through, McIntyre netted his first goal for Reading against the Hatters.

Ficking on a half-volley from a corner, the defender solidified himself as a first-team regular in 2019/20.

Similar to Holmes, a fan favourite with over 100 appearances for his boyhood club, the 24-year-old has the potential to become a club legend.

Reading Chronicle:

Andy Rinomhota- Cardiff City

A former Player of the Season, the midfielder rose through the ranks at Bearwood and made his debut in August 2017.

Almost 140 appearances later, the 25-year-old had his best season in 2020/21- forming an almost telepathic partnership with Josh Laurent.

Deciding to join the Bluebirds in the summer, he is beginning to become a regular in the Welsh capital.

Reading Chronicle:

Josh Laurent- Stoke City

A true fan favourite for his infectious personality and ability to drive teams up the pitch from midfield, Reading fans only got to see two years of the former Shrewsbury Town star.

Player of the Season in 2020/2021, he was just as important in the following year as the club managed to survive in the Championship.

Opting to move on in the summer, he has already endeared himself to Stoke supporters for his all-action displays since Christmas.

Sone Aluko- Ipswich Town

Reading's record signing at over £7m, he will go down as one of the club's biggest flops. 

Despite flattering to deieve in his first two seasons, he quietly impressed during 2020/21, his second best return since his 2017 arrival.

Moving on at the end of his contract, he's been at Portman Road since 2021 in League One.

Reading Chronicle:

Ovie Ejaria- Reading

An enigma, despite being at the club since 2019 nobody truly knows Ejaria.

On his day, one of the most talented midfielders in the division, however it has not been his day for a very long time.2020/21 was probably his peak- watching him link up with the likes of Michael Olise and John Swift was a dream for Royals fans.

Still at the club, he has played eight times this season.

Alfa Semedo- Al Tai

Jack of all trades, master of none, the Guinea-Bissau international was chucked in anywhere across the midfield in his loan spell from Benfica.

Scoring against Luton, finishing off a neat move with Sam Baldock, the 25-year-old scored twice in 36 appearances for the club.

A largely forgettable former Reading player, the midfielder is a regular in Saudi Arabia.

Sam Baldock, Oxford United

Another expensive dud signing, Baldock arrived after a successful stint as Glenn Murray's foil at Brighton.

12 goals for the Seagulls in 2016/17 was more than he got in three years as a Reading player- netting just 11 times in 74 appearances.

Enduring a short stint with Derby County last season, he is now in League One with the U's.

Used substitutes

John Swift- West Brom

The Chelsea youngster went from a boy to a man in his six-year spell with Reading, becoming one of the best attacking-midfielders in the league.

Spending much of the 2020/21 season injured, he played just 14 times and scored once, he backed it up with his best year in a Royals shirt- netting 11 times.

After making more than 200 apperances, 27-year-old Swift moved to the Baggies over the summer where he continues to impress in the second tier.

Tennai Watson- MK Dons

An Academy graduate who played mine times for Reading, the full-back enjoyed successful loan spells with AFC Wimbledon and Coventry City.

Coming on in stoppage time, seeing out the game against Luton would be his last appearance for the club, released at the end of the season.

Moving to Stadium MK, he has been a regular in Buckinghamshire ever since.