17-year-old forward Basil Tuma has made a positive impression on first-team manager Paul Ince since arriving this summer.
Tuma made his first-team debut last week in the Carabao Cup first-round defeat to Stevenage.
Despite defeat, Tuma made an impact in a youthful Royals side that included seven academy players in the starting line-up.
He caused Stevenage’s defence several problems with his blistering pace and completed 55 minutes before he was replaced by Jahmari Clarke.
Tuma, who was born in Uganda, moved to the UK when he was 11 and attended Eton College where he was deputy head boy and achieved 11 A*s at GCSE.
Tuma got on the scoresheet as Reading under 21’s took their first victory of the season against Burnley U21’s.
Playing at the Select Car Leasing Stadium’s Noel Hunt’s team earned three points with first-half strikes from Clarke and Tuma.
Ince has been delighted in what he has seen from Tuma in the early stages of his development
“Basil is only 17 and last week he was playing in an under 18’s game, the next week he’s making his first team debut,” said Ince.
“It’s exciting for these kids and it’s all part of their development
“We watched him for the under 18’s and I’d never seen him play before.
“Off the mark he was absolutely lightning.
“You look at our strikers and apart from Shane (Long), we’ve got players that are big and strong but we want someone that can get in behind with pace.
“I thought, ‘Jesus Christ, this kid is going to be special’
“So we said let’s get him in against Stevenage, give him a chance and a taste for it.
“He did well, he will get better and will be a good player for this club.
“For someone who’s 17, he’s a monster.
“He’s not even fit yet so he will get fitter and stronger but its’ someone in our armoury if we need him.
“He will have a part to play for sure.”
