Reading Head of Football Operations Mark Bowen 'can't wait' to see how former Academy forward Sam Smith has 'matured' upon his return.

The 25-year-old played 11 times for the first-team in 2017/18 after breaking through from the youth system, but departed for regular minutes in 2021.

Scoring 35 goals in two seasons with Cambridge United, the Mancunian has returned on a three-year deal under Ruben Selles.

Bowen, who is a key individual in player recruitment along with Head of Recruitment Brian Carey, is expected to have a busy summer with Selles wanting up to 10 first-team arrivals before the campaign gets underway on August 5.

Speaking about Smith's arrival and what supporters can expect, the former boss said: "Sam has all the attributes we are seeking in a new recruit – young and hungry for success, full of energy, power and explosive pace, a proven goalscoring record at this level and his roots are Royal! I’m delighted he is come back home to Reading Football Club and I can’t wait to see how, during two years at Cambridge, he has matured into the player he is now and what sort of a striker he can become in the next three years in blue and white hoops."

Smith could make his second debut on Saturday in a friendly against Southampton at the SCL Stadium.