Vote For Your 2025/26 Reading Rookie Of The Season

“Reading are much, much better at developing youth nowadays”… is how I started this article last year. As for now? Not so much. mieszalniakolorado.pl

While it’s been an oft-discussed point that Leam Richardson doesn’t really seem to trust youth players (just look at a lack of game time recently for Emmanuel Osho, Luke Howard and others), the size of our Rookie of the Season 2025/26 nominees list makes the issue clear. This has not been a good season for youngsters breaking through into Reading’s first team.

So how does our list work? Well, to come up with it, we use the same criteria each year (updating the first line though, naturally):

• Have been 22 years old or younger on August 1, 2025
• Have made fewer than five Reading starts before the start of the season
• Have made five Reading starts this season or a combined 10 sub appearances + starts
• Not be on loan at the club

The 2022/23 relegation campaign was a particularly dour year for youth development, with only three players making our shortlist (Kelvin Abrefa, winner Nesta Guinness-Walker and Amadou Mbengue). A youthwards shift in 2023/24 yielded a whopping 13-man shortlist (congratulations to Tyler Bindon), which dropped slightly to seven in 2024/25 (congratulations to Jayden Wareham).

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As for 2025/26? We’re down to… two players.

Now, obviously the situation at the club is very different now to how it was in the previous two campaigns. Reading had to play youngsters due to an inability to bring in new signings, and that’s not been the case so much in the post-Dai Yongge era.

However, it’s also fair to say that giving a youth a chance at Reading hasn’t been a strong part of this season’s rebuild. Yes, some have headed out on loan to the lower leagues and it’s made sense to do so, but such a major drop-off in opportunities in the Royals’ first team is still disappointing and should be rectified next season.

Without any further ado, here are both of your candidates…

John Ryan

Appearances: 6

Average rating: 6.3/10

The young Irishman got five starts at left-back in the cup earlier this season: three in the Pizza McPizza Virtuous Vase Shield and two in the League Cup. He did well on those occasions, particularly against West Ham United’s under-21s and MK Dons (both at home), as a well-rounded full-back. His high average rating underlines his consistency in those matches.

Unfortunately, Ryan’s season was again curtailed by serious injury, which has denied him football since December. It was another sad blow for someone who’s had horrid luck on this front in recent years, and at this point it looks unlikely he’ll be retained beyond the summer when his contract expires. Whatever happens though, he’s a bright talent and is one to watch for the future.

Benn Ward

Appearances: 8

Average rating: 6.3/10

A January arrival from Accrington Stanley, Ward’s also had bad luck on the fitness front, ruled out for the rest of the season after a cynical opposition challenge at Burton Albion in mid-March. He looked a class act during his eight appearances though, showing real quality at centre-back and left-back.

Had he shown that form across a full season, he’d have been at player of the season level, for me. Maybe that’s a bit over the top, but either way, I’m really looking forward to seeing more of him in the first team in 2026/27.

Vote

In previous years we’ve had such an extensive shortlist that we’ve asked you to rank all the nominees. Given that it’s between just the two players this time, we’ve stripped it back to a straightforward poll, which you can find in this link right here.

Manager Marcelino will leave Villarreal at the end of the season.

The 60-year-old has secured Champions League football for a second straight year with Villarreal currently in third place in La Liga.

Confirming his imminent departure, the Spanish club said: "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Marce, for everything you have given to this club and its fans.

"We wish you all the best in your future sporting endeavours."

The former Marseille and Sevilla manager began his second spell with Villarreal in 2023 and guided them to a fifth-placed finish last season.

Marcelino was reportedly only offered a one-year extension to his contract in January.

Villarreal were eliminated at the league phase of the Champions League, losing eight of their nine games, but have impressed in the league once more.

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During Wu’s marathon frame with Mark Allen, my pal Jaron came up with a solution: if there’s that kind of stalemate, you re-rack, but only the balls remaining, keeping the scores as the are. To me, that’s foolproof, but if we’re missing something, let us know.

Human beings are born with hope – we all have ambitions and desires when we’re young, then life and reality coach them out of us. So on the odd occasion we come across someone with the talent and drive, ego and discipline to withstand the onslaught, it’s moving: they’re not just fulfilling themselves but us, our pain and desperation converted into tranquility and joy.