Liam Kelly In Discussions To Extend Contract

Reading Academy graduate Liam Kelly is in discussions with the club to extend his contract.

The 20-year-old, who made his full debut in the EFL Championship the weekend just gone, was substituted after 29 minutes for tactical reasons but that does not reflect how the club's staff rate him.

GetReading understand the renewal will be for a further two years, taking his contract up to the summer of 2020.

Discouraging debut

The U23 playmaker started in Reading's win over Rotherham but was switched for Paul McShane after half an hour for tactical reasons.

Jaap Stam has backed his prodigy to recover from that setback.

He told the media:

“The opposition were throwing balls into the box and heading long balls is not his game.

“That’s why we made the sub and after that with Joey in midfield and with Macca at the back they were less of a threat.

“But in other matches Liam can and will play easily because he has the quality for it.”

“Liam is a true professional. He knows what we think of him as a player - that’s why he started the game.

“He’s proven himself in every training session and in every Under-23s match. He deserved his chance to play.

“He’s not the type of player who will be thinking why did this happen to me? He understands why I did it.”

Kelly might get a chance to prove his worth in the EFL Cup tie with Arsenal tomorrow (Tuesday, 7.45pm KO).

And while we're on the topic, never forget this.