Promising Nigerian defender Akin Odimayo is getting closer and closer to making his first team debut for Championship side Reading.

The 16-year-old has been tipped to make the step up from the academy to first team prominence in the next few years after playing his first game of the season for The Royals U23s in their 3-2 loss to Leicester City in Premier League 2 on Friday.

Odimayo came off the bench in the last 27 minutes, with the visitors leading the Foxes 1-0 at Holmes Park (Leicester).

He has caught the eyes of many in the U18 Premier League this season, netting three goals from nine matches from his defensive position and also captains the squad.

In July, the English-born talent, who has been compared to former Nigeria libero Stephen Keshi, penned a new deal that will keep him at Reading until the summer of 2018.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel