Some great academy-related news today as young prospects Tom McIntyre and Gabriel Osho have agreed professional deals with Reading. The defensive duo, both of whom are yet to make their first team debuts, are now set to stay at the Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2020. They join Omar Richards, Josh Barrett, Andy Rinomhota, Lewis Ward and Luke Southwood in signing new contracts with the senior team since last summer.
McIntyre and Osho, both 19, are key centre halves for Scott Marshall’s under-23 side with Osho typically captaining the team in Premier League 2. McIntyre on the other hand has shown great character to battle back from a long-term injury.
0-0 against Arsenal, solid performance from the boys. Thankful to get my first 90, it’s been too long #ReadingFC
— tom mcintyre (@Tom5Mc) November 30, 2017
At international level, McIntyre has played 13 times for Scotland’s under-17s and under-19s, even featuring in the 2015 under-17 Euros.
Although, Liam Moore, Paul McShane, Tiago Ilori, Tyler Blackett and Axel Andresson are all ahead of the duo in the pecking order at the moment, it won’t be too long before they’re involved in a matchday squad with the senior side.
Despite the problems that the first team are having at the moment, it’s great to see the club tying down some of their brightest talents for the future.