Reading boss Ruben Selles has urged 20-year-old left-back John Ryan to keep working after being involved in a matchday squad for the first time.
The Republic of Ireland international was an unused substitute in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Barnsley, a point which secured League One survival in a tumultuous campaign for the Royals
Ryan, a regular for Noel Hunt's Under-21s this season, arrived from Serie A side Sassuolo in the summer.
Fellow young full-back, Kelvin Abrefa, was given his first league start for the club at Oakwell after club captain Andy Yiadom was unable to recover from his knock from Bristol Rovers in time to feature against his former club.
John Ryan 🇮🇪 (19)
— Talk Reading (@TalkReading) July 29, 2023
Left-back that featured for Reading’s first team on trial against QPR. Played for Shamrock Rovers and UCD before moving to Sassuolo in Italy last year and was a regular for their U19s. Represented Ireland from U15 to U19. pic.twitter.com/njGZhnzg90
"John has been coming with us regularly in the last few weeks," Selles commented after the draw. "He has been really good in defensive situations one against one in training. He has shown a lot of the qualities and ability we want from a left-back. He just needs to continue working hard and perhaps there is a possibility in this season or next season."
Two matches remain this season, a trip to Burton Albion on Saturday before hosting Blackpool on the final day.
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